Sevan mandals to be merged into East Godavari and West Godavari

Khammam: The Andhra Pradesh government is making all out efforts to annex seven submerged mandals of Polavaram-Indirasagar Irrigation Project, that were transferred to it in East and West Godavari districts, as soon as possible.

Given the topography, three mandals such as Burgumpahad, Kukkunoor and Velierpad are adjacent to the Jangareddy-gudem revenue division in West Godavari district. Another four mandals, including Vararamachan-drapuram, Kunavaram, Chintoor and Bhadrachalam, excluding the temple town, are near Rampa-chodavaram revenue division in East Godavari district.

The government is considering issuing a government order on annexing these mandals in East and West Godavari districts according to their geographical proximity. The revenue divisional officers and concerned officials would begin governance in these mandals once the GO is issued. Official sources said the AP government had asked its Chief Secretary to submit a report on how to solve the case of these transferred mandals at the earliest.

Given this backdrop, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly requested the Centre to create an Act on these mandals in place of a Presidential Ordinance. Legitimate powers on these mandals have already come to the government and it can take any decision on them now. The Ordinance would become an Act after it is passed in Parliament. The NDA government is serious about it.

Bhadrachalm revenue divisional officer Anjaiah said the RDOs of East and West Godavari districts had already procured details of these mandals.

Meanwhile, the Polavaram Vyatireka Committee has called a bandh in the seven mandals on Wednesday in protest against the unanimous resolution of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Bhadrachalam MLA, Sunnam Rajaiah, said the people of these mandals wanted to be with Telangana.