REPORT TO THE GOM
On
TELANGANA
TELANGANA JAGRUTHI
DATE: 5/11/2013
Contents
(1) Status of Hyderabad after Telangana formation
(2) Safeguarding the Heritage property of Telangana by an act of parliament
(3) Water Projects
(4) Education Sector
(5) Reviving the old Industries of Telangana
(6) Supreme Court Second Bench to be setup in Hyderabad
(7) Beedi Workers Welfare package
(8) Handloom weavers package
(9) Protecting " Deccani" sheep breed
(10) Satellite Townships with Speacial Economic Zones around Hyderabad.
(11) Railway Coach Factory at Warangal
(12) Special Railway line package
(13) Airport for Adilabad & Warangal
(14) Solar Power Generation in Telangana
(15) G – G projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Telangana Jagruthi is a registered NGO, working towards the upliftment of the people of Telangana. We have worked with the people of Telangana very closely from the past 7 years and understand the requirements and Demands of our people.
On the historical occasion of the Telangana state formation, We would like to bring various issues to the kind notice of the Honorable Group Of Ministers (GOM) setup to work on the Telangana state formation.
Firstly, we welcome the decision of the UPA government to fulfill the long due promise of 9th December, 2009 to create the state of Telangana. On behalf of the people of Telangana we thank all the cabinet ministers for passing the Telangana Note. We would like to thank all the UPA allies who have supported the decision of the formation of Telangana state. And we would like to thank the UPA chairperson, Madam Sonia Gandhi ji for her decision of creating the Telangana State.
People of Telangana are jubilant with the decision of the state formation, but they also have some apprehensions, and would also like certain security to be provided to them by the central government. In the united Andhra Pradesh, People of Telangana have been deprived of rightful share in government jobs, rightful share in irrigated water, good quality technical education, basic health infrastructure and the list goes on.
People of Telangana are hoping the central government to support them by giving a fitting compensation for the 60 years of loss in various segments along with the formation of new state.
Telangana Jagruthi would like to highlight some important issues that the central government should look into while creating the state. A new state is like a new born and we are expecting the central government to support and strengthen Telangana at each step. With the support of the central government and the dedication of the people we can regain the lost glory of erstwhile Hyderabad state.
The issues are as follows:
(1) Status of Hyderabad after Telangana formation
"Listen to this prayer O Lord!
Bless my days and nights with contentment, O Lord!
Make Thou my country prosperous and populous,
And grant me a hundred years to live, O Lord!
Among all the thrones let my throne be
Like the gem that adorns a ring, O Lord!
Fill this city with people
As Thou hast filled the ocean with fish, O Lord!"
- Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who laid the foundation for Hyderabad in 1591 AD
***
Hyderabad, the global city that sits on the mighty Deccan Plateau, has a unique cosmopolitan culture that few cities in the world have. The city has provided shelter to lakhs of migrants from across the world. All of them have made Hyderabad their abode and are living here peacefully and happily.
Parsis, Sikhs, Sindhis, Marathis, Kannadigas, Tamils, Bengalies, Gujuratis, Marwaris, U.P. Kayasthas, Rohillas, Bondhilis, Anglo-Indians, Lodh Kshatriyas, Pardhis, Banjaras, Jains, Kutch Muslims, Bohras, and many people from different states lived in Hyderabad for more than 100 years. Further, there are lakhs of Urdu speaking Telanganites. In short, Hyderabad is a microcosm of India.Thousands of Abbisinians, Iranians, Arabians, Pathans, Turkish, and other foreigners too live here.
After the Information Technology boom post 2000s, lakhs of young techies from across India have migrated to Hyderabad and have made this city a permanent abode.People from Seemandhra, have been migrating in great numbers to Hyderabad after the merger of Andhra-Telangana in 1956. Apart from Hyderabad, Considerable number of Seemandhras have settled in other nine districts too.
There are a lot of theories and ideas floating around about the status of Hyderabad post Telangana formation.Many rumors are being spread about safety of Seemandhra migrants, by some lobbies opposed to Telangana formation. We would like clarify that there is not an iota of truth in these rumors.
Hyderabad has always maintained a cosmopolitan culture and has welcomed migrants from all parts of the world. None of those migrants have ever felt unsafe in Hyderabad.
In the last 13 years of the current phase of Telangana movement, no person or organization from Seemandhra was targeted by the Telangana activists.
Even when there was inordinate delay in state creation, hundreds of our Telangana youngsters committed suicides, but have not harmed anyone. Also, when the state government curbed fundamental rights and used brute force on the statehood movement, our people have maintained utmost restraint.
Imposing any conditionalities on Hyderabad would severely affect the image of the new Telangana state. It would send a wrong signal that the state government is not capable enough to provide security to its own citizens.
As No other capital city of a state has its law & order in Union Government’s perview it would set a new precedent, unheard of in independent Indian history. Thus resulting in similar demands springing up from Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta etc.
We request the central government to respect the aspirations of citizens of Telangana, who wish to have complete freedom and control over their capital city.
Therefore, we appeal to the honorable Group of Ministers (GoM) to ensure that the new state of Telangana has full control over the law and order of Hyderabad city.
(2) Safeguarding the Heritage property of Telangana by an act of parliament:
Telangana for centuries has been the power centre for many kingdoms. Variety of cultures has flourished in Telangana. Many religions have thrived here. From time of Lord Buddha to the last nizam, Telangana has been a river of vibrant culture flowing incessantly through the time line.
Unfortunately, this grand a history was not documented very well. The heritage monuments and sites of great archealogical importance have been willfully neglected by consecutive Andhra rulers. Out of more than 350 forts and hundreds of age old temples, only 5 monuments of Telangana have been registered with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). This gross negligence by the Andhra rulers has lead to the destruction of many important heritage monuments.
In 1961, through an Act of Parliament, the Salar Jung Museum along with its library was declared as an "Institution of National Importance" and an autonomous body was setup to take care of its maintanence . On the similar lines, Telangana Jagruthi humbly requests the GOM to consider including the following monuments/sites of great archeological importance to the same act or a separate act of parliament if necessary.
(1) Kotilingala Archeological Site, Karimnagar District.
(2) Khammam Fort & Nelakondapalli Buddhist structure, Khammam District
(3) Musk Mahal, Ranga Reddy District
(4) Rachakonda Fort, Nalgonda District.
(5) Pillalamarri & Chaya Someshwara Temple, Nalgonda.
(6) Jainath Temple & Gondwana structures of Bazar Hathnura, Adilabad district
(7) Medak Fort & Kondapur archeological site, Medak District
(8) Qilla Ramalayam & 100 pillar temple, Nizamabad.
(9) Medak Church, Medak.
(10) Jagityal fort, Karimnagar District.
(11) Chowmahallah palace,Mecca Masjid & Rock Formations of Hyderabad
(3) Water Projects :
(A) Polavaram Project:
The very fact that the GOM is looking at this particular project specifically indicates the importance of the controversy. People of Telangana are against the current format of the project, not the project itself. The proposed Polavaram project in the current format is submerging around 630 sq kms of land and will displace about 2 lakh Adivasis directly and will destroy an entire race of "konda reddy" tribe and their lifestyle from the face of the earth. The major chunk of the land submerged and 95% of the adivasis displaced are from the Telangana region. This project will forever change the map of Khammam district of Telangna.
The Tribals of this region are absolutely against the "Polavaram project" in its present design. The tribals also have made " Gram Sabha" resolutions in about 150 villges, which have been submitted to the Honorable Supreme court.
Apart from the intellectuals of Seemandhra region,People of Telangana have time and again pleaded with the Andhra rulers, to change the design of the Polavaram project. The changed design would still cater to the same ayacut and will be able to give drinking water to vishakapatnam. When the main purpose of the project is served, one doesn’t understand why the Andhra rulers insist on the original design.
Left with no option, Telangana Jagruthi on behalf of the Tribals of Telangana is fighting legally in the Honorable Supreme Court, to stall the proposed Polavaram Project in its present design. The neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, both Orissa and Chattisgarh also have filed cases against GoAP in the honorable Supreme Court.
Despite the opposition from the tribal and various peoples organizations, and two neighbouring states, the Andhra rulers are insisting on building this project.
We earnestly request the GOM to research into the pros and cons of the current design of the polavram project Vs The alternate design proposed by the Andhra intellectuals, before according the status of "National Project" to the Indiara Sagar Polavaram Project.
(B) Dummugudem – Nagarjuna Sagar Tail pond Link Project :
This is another project proposed by the Andhra rulers to cater to the same ayacut for which both Polavaram and Pulichinthala projects cater to. When the Andhra rulers are demanding the national project status for Polavaram, Dummugudem – tailpond project becomes redundant, catering to the same ayacut. This is a heavy budget project with an estimated cost of 20,000 crores. This project falls geographically under the Telangana region, but doesn’t supply a single drop of water to the region. There is also yet another project called Pulichintala, which caters to the same ayacut.
People of Telangana are opposing all the three projects. But, pulichintala is almost in the last phase of completion, built against the wishes of Telangana people.
Therefore, we request the GOM to immediately direct the state government to stop the Dummugudem – Tail pond link project & Change the design of Polavaram project.
(C) Palamoor lift irrigation scheme:
This project is a brain child of Telangana Engineers, which was not even given the basic money to survey the project until recently. This project proposes to irrigate the most backward and arid Mahbubnagar district of Telangana. Along with Mahbubnagar district, this project can irrigate Ranga reddy district which practically has zero source of water, Nalgonda district and Hyderabad city can get drinking water also from the project.
This project can turn the drought prone south Telangan region into a lush green pasture and also flush the moosi river of the Industrial waste. Another major purpose served with the project is, by flushing moosi with Krishna water, the heart breaking florosis problem of Nalgonda district can be eliminated forever.
Therefore, Telangana Jagruthi urges the GOM to consider giving the "National project" status to the Palamoor Lift Irrigation scheme.
(4) EDUCATION Sector in Telangana :
From 1956, Telangana region has been neglected in education field, by the Andhra rulers. There are still many Mandal headquarters in Telangana which do not have the junior colleges. There are very few aided colleges, and the existing aided colleges get paltry aid from the government. The staff and the students are suffering from the irregular funding pattern followed by the Andhra rulers.
Ranga Reddy district, geographically contiguous with the Hyderabad city, till date has only one government degree college which was sanctioned after serious agitations by TRS and other Telangana organizations.
Therefore, the Education scenario in the new state of Telangana should be very encouraging to the rural students. Telangana should be given a wholesome package speacially designed for the education. Few Telanagana districts have been given Universities, which were nothing but government degree colleges with a name plate change. That was the sincerity of the Andhra rulers. Therefore, we request the GOM to grant the following institutes as a special case :
Each Telangana district should be given a university, with a mandatory Engineering and medical college (with a dedicated nursing college).
The breeder degree and junior colleges one for each constituency should be sanctioned. At least one girls degree and junior college should be sanctioned for each revenue headquarter.
Medical College and Mining University to be sanctioned in the Singareni coal belt area, with special reservation for the coal belt employees children.
Women University for Telangana
(5) Reviving the old Industries in Telangana :
Before 1956, Telangana region was booming with a vibrant Industrial segment. After 1956, many Industries have been closed and few of them have been taken over by the state government to only sell of as real estate projects. There are still some remanants, which can be revived, thus creating great number of government jobs. The main such industries are
IDPL, Hyderabad.
Cement Factory of Adilabad.
Nizam Sugars to be restored back to government
Azamzahi mills
DBR mills have been dubiously transferred to private people and the labourers are still suffering.
(6) Supreme Court Second Bench to be setup in Hyderabad
Hyderabad has a great advantage owing to its geographical location. It is like a bridge between the north and South India. With its Cosmopolitan approach to life, Hyderabad is the most suitable location to have a second bench of the Honorable apex court of India to be setup. The Andhra Pradesh state assembly and legislative council long ago have passed a resolution in favor of this demand.
Telangana Jagruthi requests the GOM to consider the proposal in favor of Hyderabad.
(7) Beedi Workers
There are about 8 lakh beedi workers in the Telangana region. Most of them have not been given proper labour identity cards and thus are being looted by the middlemen. Lack of Identity cards is also depriving them of the health and pension related schemes. None of the Andhra rulers have taken up the subject as there is negligible number of beedi workers in the seemandhra region.
Apart from the above mentioned issues, almost none of the beedi workers of the Telangana region have been given the land for house. Whereas their counterparts in maharastra and Tamil Nadu have been given decent size plot for house constructions.
We request the GOM to consider giving A handsome package to the beedi workers of Telangana.
(8) Handloom weavers package
The weavers who have created a 9 yard sari to fit in a match box are from the Telangana. Gone is the glory in being called a weaver. Today the weavers are only headlines of leading newspapers with their suicides. Handloom saris of siddipet, narayanpet, pochampally and gadwal are well known throughout India. But after the advent of power looms, a major shift in the technology, has only worsened the condition of the weavers.
This fading art, which has won worldwide fame for India needs to be safe guarded. Therefore, Telangana Jagruthi requests the GOM to give a special package for the weaver’s community of Telangana. Institutes like NIFT should be directed to work with the indigenous materials produced by the native weavers.This will keep the weavers abreast of the current trends and also will open up fresh income sources to the weavers.
(9) Protecting " Deccani" sheep breed
"Deccani" means – which belongs to the deccan plateau. Therefore the native urdu of Telangana, which is a mix of urdu,Telugu and parsi is called "Deccani". Not only the language but there is a special breed of sheep, with a unique black colored fur (this fur is a favorite of the world renowned designer "Ralph lauren") which is at the verge of extinction. There are many reasons for the scenario, but it is our responsibility to protect the indigenous breed of our animals.
Therefore, we request the GOM to grant a research centre with ample funding to protect this indigenous breed of sheep.
(10) Satellite Townships with Special Economic Zones around Hyderabad.
Hyderabad is a very vibrant, rich and colourful city. Size of Hyderabad has seen great changes, as the Andhra rulers started merging the adjoin districts of Telangana into Hyderabad city. First it was MCH, then GHMC and now it is HMDA. HMDA includes 50 mandal headquarters of adjoin 4 Telangana districts viz. medak,Nalgonda,mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy.
The size of Hyderabad has swelled because the Andhra rulers wanted to sell the land and divert the revenue to the seemandhra region. Now Hyderabad is about 630 sq kms. A Metro Rail has been bought in. first time YSR and Satyam Raju’s scam has been busted. But relentless Andhra rulers have again called for the Tenders on the same lines ( with zero changes) , and despite the opposition from the local people, metro tracks are speedily making its way scaring Hyderabad and destroying heritage structures.
We demand that the metro of Hyderabad should not only run across the city, but it should be re evaluated to encircle Hyderabad and connect all the mandal headquarters of the HMDA region, thus enabling the rural youth to travel to-and fro for work. This will not strain the Hyderabad city and also will strengthen the surrounding rural dwellings. And wherever the rail goes, needless to say Industry will grow and the swollen Hyderabad will thrive with jobs and development.
Already vikarabad, 73 kms from main city has been given a status of "Satellite Township". In the same line 4 other townships should be declared to reduce the strain on Hyderabad and also to kick start the new state with great growth.
We earnestly request the GOM to consider this proposal.
(11) Railway Coach Factory at Warangal
The railway coach factory was supposed to be setup in Warangal town in 1999. But was given a clearance in 2009-10 railway budgets. Till date the government of Andhra Pradesh has not given land for the factory to begin the work. This project is supposed to give direct employment to 50,000 youth and indirect support to about 1 lakh people.
For a new state, such a big employment generating unit will be a great boon. We therefore, request the Honorable GOM to give all the required financial and technical support for the factory.
(12) Special Railway line package
Telangana was greatly neglected in terms of Railway linkage. Many demands have been neglected. Many of them due to the negligence of the state government in contributing its due share and acquiring land. Some of them due to the delay from the central government side.
Irrespective of the reasons, as we know that Train is a poor man’s friend, every district of Telangana for a uniform and vibrant growth should be connected by railway.
We request the GOM to kindly grant a special package for the railway linkage of the districts of Telangana.
(13) Airport for Adilabad & Warangal
Nizam’s Telangana had three functional airports. Hyderabad, Kagaznagar of Adilabad and Warangal. The Telangana under Andhra rulers has flourished so well that they have shut the two airports of Telangana and only the Hyderabad airport is functional.
The wholesome growth of Telangana is possible only when the development is decentralized and not only Hyderabad but every district should be made into a growth engine. This can be achieved only when sufficient connectivity between various geographical growth centers is achieved.
Adilabad is 300 kms from Hyderabad and takes about 5and half hours to reach. An airport in Adilabad will be of great advantage as Adilabad district shares its borders with both Maharastra and chattisgarh states.
Warangal is been a age old trade and education centre of Telangana region. Hence the revivals of the airport in Warangal will greatly speedup the Industrial growth of the region.
Therefore, Telangana Jagruthi requests the GOM to consider including the airports at both Warangal and Adilabad while creating the state of Telangana.
(14) Solar Power Generation in Telangana
The new state of Telangana’s biggest challenge will be to meet the electricity requirement. Telangana will immediately have 4000MW of power shortage. Thermal and Hydral powers stations will take at least 2 years time for construction and production to start.
The immediate and easy alternative which can start production in a year is the solar power generation. Some areas of Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda have been identified as best places for solar power generation.
We request the GOM to install a Ultra Mega Power Project in joint venture with the Telangana government and central power finance corporation, in order to immediately catch up with the power shortage of Telangana.
(15) G – G projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
To encourage the brotherhood feeling and to maintain harmony, the two governments i.e. Telangana and Andhra should work together and partner together in mutually benefitting project.
For Instance, VANPIC Project which was supposed to be a joint venture of Andhra government, ras al khaimah and a private party is in doldrums. The same project can be executed with the Telangana government, thus enabling the Telangana state to have access to the sea port. Further, an eight lane road can be built from Telangana to Andhra and for easy movement of large containers, thus encouraging trade and building relation between both the states.
Various G-G projects should be conceived to maintain harmonious relations in the future both in Telangana and Andhra.
