Telangana Rashtra Samithi
(TRS) Response to
Group of Ministers on
Telangana
A
Group of Ministers (GOM) have been constituted by the Govt. of India. Its hallowed objective is to take the process
of Telangana formation forward. Since its inception in 2001, TRS, have been
spearheading the movement of Telangana as a separate state. The movement, based on Gandhian principles of
non violence, has not only sustained but continues to forge ahead,
regardless. The tag line of the
movement, all through has been NIDHULU, NEELLU and NIYAMAKALU (Funds, Waters
& Jobs).
In all, eleven Terms of Reference (ToR) have
been communicated. After in-depth discussions, the considered response of the
Party for each one of them is as follows:
ToR no: 1. Determine the boundaries
of the new state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with
reference to the electoral constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies, and
other administrative units
As
per the Cabinet resolution dated 3rd October 2013, Telangana state would
consist of 10 districts with Hyderabad as its permanent capital. These district
boundaries have stood the test of time for more than half a century. Therefore,
these firm borders, circumscribing ten districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad,
Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahboobnagar, Medak, Rangareddy and
Hyderabad would constitute a robust Telangana State. As per the latest
Delimitation exercise done during 2007, these 10 districts have been divided
into 17 Parliamentary and further, 119 Assembly constituencies. During 2009,
elections were also conducted smoothly. There is no overlap in any way.
Moreover,
these 119 Assembly constituencies plus one representing Anglo-Indian community
would make the House 120 strong. This, precisely is the minimum requirement for
constituting the Legislative Council.
The new State would surely require the guidance of elders. Therefore, this critical strength of 120
Assembly constituencies just cannot be tinkered.
TRS
firmly supports the above boundaries of Telangana State, as per the Cabinet
resolution on 3rd October 2013. It would not require any change in districts,
parliamentary and Assembly constituency boundaries, whatsoever.
ToR no:2. Look
into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both the
state governments can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital
for 10 years.
Residuary state of Andhra Pradesh can conveniently
function from a set of decent, dignified and spacious outfits located in close
proximity within the city of Hyderabad. The Telangana state, with Hyderabad as
its permanent capital, would, of course continue to function from existing
outfits. This arrangement has been working well, right since 1948 onwards, even
prior to the formation of Andhra Pradesh state.
ToR No: 3. Take into account the
legal, financial and administrative measures that may be required for
transition to a new capital of the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh
The location of the capital for residuary state
should be decided expeditiously. Core
functionaries in Secretariat, a few HODs and Legislature can be shifted
immediately. The entire capital complex can be made ready for occupation, well
within two years. It would enthuse public servants of the residuary state.
Moreover, it would be quite convenient for the five crore people to have their
Government functioning, from their midst.
TRS reiterates that overall
policing of Telangana, including Hyderabad city must remain with the new state.
ToR no: 4. Look
into the special needs of the backward regions and districts of both the states
and recommend measures.
85% of Telangana society
consist of socially deprived sections including SC, ST, BC and minorities.
Burden of illiteracy and malnutrition is rather heavy. Infrastructural gaps in terms of irrigation,
power and railways are quite substantial.
Whatever criteria is followed, backwardness of Telangana is a reality.
With this back ground, TRS
demands that,
1.
One
major irrigation project in Godavari and another in Krishna basin to be taken
at national level.
2.
Railway
lines, sanctioned in the past, must be completed expeditiously.
3.
An
Indian Institute of Management, Indian Institute of Medical Sciences and a National
Tribal University to be setup.
4.
The
Planning Commission have identified eight out of ten districts as eligible
under background region grant fund (BRGF). Adequate
funding to these district namely, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Mahbubnagar,
Nalgonda, Khammam,Warangal,and Karimnagar must continue, for at least one more
decade.
ToR no: 5. Look
into issues relating to law and order, safety and security of all residents and
ensure peace and harmony in all regions and districts consequent to the
formation of the state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh,
and the long term internal security implications arising out of the move and
make suitable recommendations;
Movement for a
separate state of Telangana is based on the Gandhian principles of nonviolence.
Since its inceptions, there has been no case of attack by Telangana people on Seemandhra
lot, even during the worst turbulent periods. None need be apprehended in
future. All along, the Law & Order has been well maintained in A.P.,
particularly in Telangana. Left-wing
extremism, communal disturbances have been tackled and controlled successfully.
Since, it is the State police, which has to deliver on the ground, the entire
Law & Order subject can be safely dealt with by the new State of Telangana.
In 1953, there
was stress between Andhras and Tamils.
Yet again, in 1960, Marathas and Gujratis faced the same challenge. In
fact, while creating 28 States, the Centre did not take over any part of the
administration, directly or indirectly on the ground of safety and security.
Creation of Telangana, as the 29th State of Indian Union should be
treated, at par now.
Judiciary
High
Court, as the ultimate seat of justice and fair play at the state level must be
independent and conflict free. But the present day reality of Hon. High Court of
A.P is quite different. It has split down the middle, be it the Bench, the Bar
or even clientele. This perception has
been shared by a bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India also. Continuation
of this split personality would vitiate the atmosphere further and inflict
incalculable damage upon the morale of public, seeking justice and fair play.
Therefore,
to uphold the dignity of the judiciary it is imperative to have independent
High Courts for each successor state, immediately. It would also be just and fair
to have a separate Bar Council for the new Telangana state. Provisions
facilitating this must be included in the proposed Bill.
ToR no:6. Look into the
sharing of river water, irrigation resources and other natural resources
(especially coal, water, oil and gas) between the two states and also inter-se
with other states, including the declaration of Polavaram Irrigation Project as
a National Project.
In 1955, the Fazal Ali Commission had recommended to keep Telangana as
a separate state from the then Andhra. An important reason was that people were
apprehensive of a raw deal in allocation and utilization of river waters. To quote, “when plans for future development
are taken into account, Telangana fears that the claims of this area may not
receive adequate consideration in Vishalandhra.
Telangana does not wish lose its present independent rights in relation
to utilization of the waters of the Krishna and the Godavari.”
In spite of categorical
SRC’s recommendations, Telangana was force merged with Andhra. All water projects in Godavari and Krishna
basins were either forgotten or were heavily compromised. Consequently, after 57 years of so called
planned development, a mere 12.5 lakh acres of canal irrigation has benefitted
Telangana. In the meantime, 4.5 lakh acres
of erstwhile tank irrigation has vanished.
Thus, only 8 lakh acres of flow irrigation have been added to
Telangana’s vast cultivated geography of 1.25 crore acres. Even, the prophetic Fazal Ali could not have
imagined such a disastrous scenario.
In 1976, Bachawat
Commission, appointed by the Government of India articulated the ongoing
injustice. The Commission observed that,
‘Telangana would have benefitted more, if it was a separate state’. They finally awarded 811 thousand million cubic
feet (tmc) of Krishna river water to Andhra Pradesh and fixed Telangana’s share
at 298 tmc. In the case of Godavari, the award set aside 1480 tmc for Andhra
Pradesh, of which Telangana’s share was 900 tmc. These awards have clearly allocated
the legitimate share of Telangana.
TRS, accepts these awards. It would also
insist to use its full and legitimate share, without any compromise, in the
immediate future.
Brijesh Kumar Tribunal (BKT), after preliminary studies,
have indicated that state of AP will get additional 190 TMC of water. The
rulers, are yet again colluding to include projects illegally constructed in
non-basin geography. The final award is yet to be made.
TRS demands that the final award be held in
abeyance, till the State of Telangana makes its own submission. Its just claim for
a fair share, within the basin must be considered by the BKT.
Polavaram irrigation project is located in Andhra
area. However, the matter is before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The dispute
relates to huge submergence of tribal geographies in Orissa and Chattisgarh
states. The new state of Telangana would also suffer submergence.
TRS demands
that physical work on Polavaram should commence only after environmental issues,
including wild life and R&R issues of tribals in Orissa, Chattisgarh and
Telangana are addressed in a humane manner.
TRS
also demands that one national project on Godavari and another on Krishna in
Telangana may be considered to benefit its vast dry geography. It would rectify
the brutal neglect and historic injustice to some extent.
Coal
TRS
demands that this historic and vital Telangana company remain under the direct
control of the Telangana Government and all the shares held in it by the
Government of Andhra Pradesh be transferred to Telangana Government.
Gas and Oil
Krishna–Godavari
basin, off the Bay of Bengal, is hydrocarbon rich. Gas has already been found. Oil may be struck, in future. A fair share in hydrocarbons to Telangana
would help it bridge its yawning historic energy gap.
ToR no: 7. Look
into issues related to power generation, transmission and distribution between
the two states.
In 1956, Telangana territory in the erstwhile
Hyderabad state was a well lit area. The
dazzling capital city was known as ‘Uroos-al-Balad’ i.e. (a bride among
cities). But, due to planned plunder in
power sector by the partisan rulers for over 57 years, Telangana society has
been pushed back to dark ages. A brief
background would be in order.
In 1969, Jai Telangana agitation rose, peaked and
was eventually crushed. But, the fragility of Andhra Pradesh as a composite
State sunk deep in the psyche of ruling elite. Facilitated by partisan
technocrats, 1000 MW planned as pithead thermal station at Manugur was shifted
to Vijayawada. In the name of balanced regional development, stations were
built far away, forcing heavy cost over burden due to long coal haulage. The
required water was diverted from Krishna River, illegally. That was not all.
Yet another 2680 MW station at Ramagundam was shifted to NTPC, while 560 MW
capacities were given away to a private player. In all, more that 4000 MW of
capacity was either diverted or handed over to other players. Over and above,
yet another set of projects identified but not taken up, add upto another 4617
MW. In all, the denial of around 9000 MW of power projects to Telangana over
five to six decades has rendered its landscape powerless.
After 57 years, just 2280 MW of thermal capacity is
available in Telangana. This, coupled
with uncertain hydel energy, has played havoc with its economy. As power
holiday silence industry, lakhs of workers were rendered jobless. As farm
supply is uncertain, farmers remain awake round the clock, facing night
hazards. Urban residents face double whammy. Sweating out during summers is
accompanied with heavier tariff burden.
Base demand in Telangana needs additional 4000 MW
of thermal power. Unrestricted demand would need another 1500 MW of additional
power. Hyderabad city alone needs 1000
-1500 MW of power.
In
view of the huge gap between supply and demand of power, TRS demands:
A.
Setting up of a dedicated
4000 MW Ultra Mega Power Plant by NTPC in Telangana State with domestic coal
linkage.
B.
Telangana may be allotted
60% share of the newly allotted coal blocks in Orissa and Chattisgarh.
C.
NTPC to set up a 1400 MW Natural Gas based power plant at Shankarapally, Ranga Reddy
District with
the priority fertilizer status.
ToR No: 8. Look
into the issues arising on account of distribution of assets, public finance,
public corporations and liabilities thereof between the two states;
Assets of state
undertakings may be distributed based on their location and the areas of
operation in the respective states. Outstanding
public debt and government guarantees should be divided based on project
specific details. As ownership of projects would transfer to the respective
state territories, the outstanding debt raised or guarantee offered should also
migrate accordingly.
TRS demands that assets of Telangana prior to
1st November 1956 both
immovable and movable should continue to vest with Telangana and these may not
be taken into account as common assets to be distributed.
The
Hyderabad House, along with appurtenant land and buildings, located in New
Delhi, was formerly a property of Hyderabad State. Later on the main building was transferred to
Govt. of India and in lieu thereof, 8 acres of land was allotted
elsewhere. Therefore, the entire remaining
Complex along with 8 acres of land may be given to Telangana State.
ToR no: 9. Look
into the issues relating to the distribution of the employees in the
subordinate as well as All India Services between the two states.
At the time of merger of Hyderabad state with the then Andhra state,
the need for safeguards in many fields was recognized. Employment for locals was one among them, as
a part of Gentlemen’s Agreement. Hence,
Mulki Rules were in force. However, due to breach of safeguards, Telangana
employees agitated. That came to be known as the famous 1969 Telangana
Movement. The Mulki Rules also stood the
test of law and were upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. This was protested by the Seemandhra
employees which resulted in 1972 Jai Andhra Agitation. To appease the Andhra employees, Union Govt.
prescribed six-point formula and Presidential Order was issued in 1975.
Six-point formula divided A.P. state into six- Zones for locals at 80%, 70% and
60% for district, non-gazetted zonal, and gazetted zonal categories
respectively. However, this formula was
also brazenly violated.
Telangana employees
contend that their plea for implementation of G.O 610 which is an off shoot of
the P.O 1975 has fallen on deaf ears and zonal system of employment has been
grossly violated. This has resulted in denial of employment to the locals and
jobs meant for them were usurped by non local Seemandhra employees.
Responding to the demand
made by the Telangana employees Associations, A.P. Govt. caused enquiries
occasionally. Among them the One Man
Commission headed by (late) J M Girglani, IAS made phenomenal contribution to
the issue. In his report among other
things, his observations are as follows:
1.
Staff of Regional offices was treated as HOD staff and placed out of
local cadre and PO.
2.
Deputation process has been misused.
3.
20%, 30% and 40% open quota was barred for locals.
4.
Zonal gazette posts were upgraded as state gazette posts and kept out
of PO.
5.
Urban Authorities, State Public Sector Units, Autonomous Bodies were
kept out of PO.
6.
Non Gazetted posts were made as Gazetted there by denying opportunities
to the locals.
7.
Number of HODs were increased indiscriminately denying local
reservations.
8.
City of Hyderabad is part of Zone VI but was treated as Zone VII and
recruitment and postings were made.
(A copy of summary of findings of OMC is enclosed)
The Telangana employees
have suffered gross injustice at the hands of A.P. Govt. Many non-locals who were recruited against
quota of 20% (Dist. Category), 30% (Non-Gazetted category) and 40% (Gazetted
category) have to be repatriated based on the definition of “local candidate”
as defined in the Presidential Order 1975, and on the basis of nativity as
reflected in the service registers.
As on today, there are 4,03,002 Govt. Employees
(other than state level Govt. corporations) who are drawing salaries through
the District Treasuries of Telangana, amounting to Rs.11,451 crores per annum.
In view of this huge financial implication, the new
state Govt. of Telangana would like to critically and carefully go into the
distribution of employees to reduce its financial burden.
As per our rough estimate, 30% of the Govt.
employees, presently working in Telangana, belong to Seemandhra, and all these
are illegally recruited over the decades.
All India Services
The distribution of All India services is governed by the
All India Services Act, 1951. However,
the following facts and figures are furnished for consideration and relaxation
of certain Rules by GOI in the distribution and allocation of All India
Services, namely, IAS, IPS and IFS (Indian Forest Service) to the newly created
state of Telangana.
Since Telangana has been a backward region, there are not
many IAS, IPS and IFS officers in the present AP State cadre to fill up the
“one third” insiders quota in the proposed distribution of these officers to
Telangana State.
If you take IAS, the cadre strength of AP State is
376. Telangana State is likely to get a
cadre strength of about 160 to 170; of which “one-third” should be insiders as
per rules, i.e. about 60. Whereas, there
are only 27 IAS officers belonging to Telangana in AP cadre at present. Thus there will be a shortfall of more than
50% in IAS officers to the fill up the ‘in-siders’ quota.
Similarly,
in IPS as against the cadre strength of 258, there are only 20 IPS officers at
present in AP from Telangana. In IFS, as against cadre strength of 149, there
are only 15 IFS officers from Telangana.
Thus there will be a heavy shortfall of All India Service officers, who
are native of Telangana area, in the proposed Telangana state.
In
view of this peculiar situation, TRS demands that the Govt. of India may
consider to relax the relevant Rules of the All-India Services cadre
allocation, and to allow Telangana officers of IAS, IPS and IFS working
elsewhere in the country to come and work in Telangana state, on their request,
either on permanent cadre, transfer or on long deputation.
State Gazetted Officers
All
Gazetted officers, who are wrongly recruited and promoted, in violation of various safeguards provided
to Telangana employees, have to be relocated to the residuary state of Andhra on the basis of nativity, as reflected
in the service register.
Subordinate Services
Many
non locals who were recruited in Subordinate Services against quota of 20 % (
District category), 30% (Non Gazetted
category ) and 40% ( Gazetted category ) have to be relocated based on the
definition of “local candidate” as defined in the Presidential Order 1975 and
on the basis of nativity as reflected in the service registers.
As
on today, there are 4,03,002 Govt. Employees (other than state level Govt.
corporations) who are drawing salaries through the District Treasuries of Telangana.
As per quick estimates, 30% of the Govt. employees who are presently working in
Telangana belong to Seemandhra. All of them have been illegally recruited over decades. In view of
this, Govt. of Telangana would carefully go into the distribution of employees in
each unit office of government, educational institutions and public sector.
Pensioners
The
burden of paying the pensioners in the category of All India Services, who
retired from Hyderabad and drawing pension from Hyderabad treasury, has to be
shared by both the State Govts, after formation, based on the nativity for ‘insiders’ and length of
field service for ‘outsiders’.
With
regard to state Govt. officers and staff, the pensioners have to be divided
based on their nativity as reflected in their SRs, and the respective state
governments should bear their pension commitments.
This
is because, in Hyderabad, twin cities alone, there are 92,302 pensioners, with
an annual commitment of Rs.2070 crores pension amount to Hyderabad treasury;
and definitely all these pensioners do not belong to Telangana alone.
As
on 31st March, 2013, there are 2.34 lakh pensioners who are drawing
their pension through the ten Telangana District Treasuries to the tune of
Rs.417 crores per month ( and Rs.5004 crores per annum).
Hence, TRS demands that Telangana Government
would review each and every case of the pensioner who is presently drawing
pension from Telangana district Treasuries and take appropriate decision based
on nativity criteria.
ToR No: 10. Look
into the issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D
of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation and
TRS is agreeable that Article 371-D should
continue with a textual amendment, adding the name of the new State to the
Article.
An appropriate new Presidential Order will be
requested by the Telangana Government . On division of the state, there will be
distribution of staff between the two States, which is not the same as loss of
jobs. All the officers and staff, who are presently working in AP Govt., on
distribution, have to work in the same and corresponding posts of the successor
states, to which they are allotted.
ToR no: 11. Examine
any other matter that may arise on account of bifurcation of the state of
Andhra Pradesh and make suitable recommendations.
Since its inception in 1956, a planned plunder of Telangana
wealth, be it on land, water, mineral or financial resources has been a
perennial reality. Huge chunks of lands are in illegal occupation of
politico-entrepreneurs. Massive water flows, at times enveloping the entire
river basin have been diverted to non basin geographies. Mineral wealth, especially coal has also been
allocated to power stations situated 230 km to 560 km away, rather than
establishing most viable pit head thermal stations in Telangana itself. All
these partisan ventures needed a ruling class supported by crony capitalists.
More than that, they needed continuous supply of financial resources to ground
these illegal projects. That is where the state budget came in handy. Like an
Akshaypatra, it offered an inexhaustible
source of perennial plunder. A modest attempt is made to quantify this
diversion.
On 01.11.1956, State of Andhra Pradesh came into being. Budget
exercise got underway. Five year plans were conceived, launched and
implemented. To start with, focus was on major irrigation and power projects.
But later on, especially during eighties, it diversified towards social welfare
and family based entitlements. During 21st
Century, especially from 2004 onwards, massive irrigation projects, without any
permission have been launched simultaneously. Thick outlays have drained out
resources. But, thin outcomes are hard
to be traced on ground. Meanwhile, an ever expanding welfare balloon has
subsumed demography. Therefore, lately, irrigation and power projects coupled
with social and family welfare schemes constitute the major components of plan
expenditure.
Rs. 51.38 Crores was the plan expenditure in 1960-61. Since then, A. P. has sky rocketed to a
plan expenditure of 49,976.58 Crores in 2012-13. Accounting for inflation, it
is still 32 times in real terms. Escalating expenditure has followed an
exponential, rather than a straight line path.
A simple calculation would show that cumulative plan expenditure in
Andhra Pradesh over last 53 years has been 6.68 lakh crores at current price
level. This has mainly been spent on major projects and welfare schemes. 20%
outcomes in irrigation, 30% outcomes in power and 35% white cards beneficiaries
under social welfare has accrued to Telangana. Taking weighted averages, not
more than 29% plan funds have reached Telangana land and its people. But, its contribution in terms of State Owned
Tax Revenue (SOTR) has been more than 55% of State revenues. Therefore, 26% of
Plan funds, aggregating to 1.73 lakh crores have been diverted away during the
last 53 years. It is a conservative
estimate of historic plunder of Telangana, after its forced merger with Andhra
Pradesh.
The total non-plan expenditure since 1956 till 2013 is 11.87 lakh
crores at current price level. It is mostly accounted for by routine yet
compulsory expenditure like pensions, salaries to government employees,
teachers and doctors. Another area consists of maintenance of public assets
like government buildings, water bodies and roads. Certain schemes, after
withdrawal of plan funding, too fall
under non-plan category.
25% pensioners, 35% government employees and 40% teachers form one
segment. Then, 35% white card holders constitute another segment. On the whole,
taking weighted averages, Telangana accounts for 35% of non-plan expenditure.
Yet again, contributing 55% of state revenue, a diversion of 20% aggregating to
2.37 lakh crores has been another painful reality for Telangana.
Therefore the total diversion amounts to 1.73+2.37=4.10 lakh
cores. This is just the financial aspect. In economic terms, loss of productivity of agriculture due to neglect of its irrigation
sources is estimated at Rs. 4,53,392 crores. To top it all, denial of public
employment opportunities to at least 2.5 lakh of its youth, over two
generations has weakened its social fabric. The collective plunder of
Telangana society, in socio-economic terms, has indeed been horrendous.
TRS
demands that being the consistent loser, Telangana needs an appropriate
compensatory package to mitigate the historic injustice.
K. Chandrasekhar Rao
President, Telangana Rashtra
Samithi,
Telangana Bhavan, Banjara
Hills,
Hyderabad.
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