Telangana, AP headed for yet another row on the horizon

Hyderabad: A new controversy is likely to crop up between TS and AP on taking over the AP Secretariat buildings for demolition by TS. Following the TS government’s decision to rebuild the entire Secretariat complex by demolishing all the blocks that were allotted to TS and AP, senior officials of AP are insisting that unless the Central government issues a fresh notification by amending the AP Reorganisation Act, it is not possible for the TS government to take over the complex along with offices of the 89 Heads of Departments.

According to TS senior officials, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma has been asked to prepare a roadmap for shifting all employees  working in the Secretariat to other government buildings before handing over the site to the contractor to rebuild the complex as per the plan and design already approved by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. A senior official said, “Once all the AP staff move to the Amaravati capital region, only a few people will remain here; we can make arrangements for the skeletal staff in a separate building outside the Secretariat. We cannot hand over the site (to the contractor) with some employees still working here. We don’t think there will be a problem, Section 8 (2) of the Act empowers the Governor to allot buildings, that too on the advice of the Telangana Cabinet; he will be advised by the TS government accordingly.”

However, senior AP officials say that handing over the Secretariat blocks and Heads of Department buildings to Telangana is not possible in spite of the AP government’s decision to shift all its employees to Amaravati. “Section 5 of the Act clearly says that Hyderabad shall be the common capital for both states for a period not exceeding 10 years. Even if we have decided to move to Amaravati, that doesn’t mean that we have to forego our rights over the common capital. Unless and until there is an amendment to the Act by Parliament and to Section 5, clearly stating Amaravati will be the capital for AP and Hyderabad shall remain with Telangana, the TS government cannot claim it as if it’s its right,” the senior AP official said.

Official sources have indicated that the TS Chief Minister has briefed Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan about his plans to rebuild the Secretariat at the existing place and the need to allot AP’s blocks too for demolition. Sources said the Governor will talk to AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to find an amicable settlement and explore the possibility of the Centre to re-notify the common capital for both states. “Legal opinion is also being sought by the Governor,” said a source.