For the first time since bifurcation, a three-member committee from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, met at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Wednesday, in a bid to resolve issues that have cropped up between the two Telugu states.
The meeting occurred in the presence of common Governor ESL Narasimhan, and comes after a lot of political statements and accusations between the two parties that rule the two states.
Telangana and Andhra have now agreed to resolve their issues amicably by holding frequent talks on the same lines.
The Telangana delegation will be led by Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao along with Power Minister Jagadeeshwar Reddy. Advisor to the state, G Vivekananda will also be part of the discussions.
For Andhra, the delegation will be led by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Youth Affairs and Labour Minister K Atchannaidu and Chief Whip Kalva Srinivasulu.
There are several contentious issues between the two states that need to be resolved.
This include division of assets listed in Schedule IX and Schedule X of the AP Reorganisation Act, including government owned companies in the two states, research institutes, co-operative unions, welfare boards etc.
For a long time, Telangana has staked claim on the basis of geographical location of Schedule X institutions (Hyderabad) as per Section 75, while AP quotes Section 47 of the Act, and says that the assets have to be divided on the basis of population ratio, which is 58:42, in favour of Andhra.
The division of High Court employees was also discussed, as the Hyderabad HC still serves as the common court for both states.
The issue of Andhra Pradesh handing over the secretariat buildings it had emptied in Hyderabad, before moving to its temporary secretariat in Velagapudi, was also discussed.
However, issues like the Krishna River Water sharing dispute did not come up and will reportedly come up in the next meeting scheduled on February 9.
"A lot of issues are pending. TS has some issues and AP has some. Both the states have decided to resolve them amicably. Instead of approaching the courts and depending on officers, both the states have decided to settle the pending issues in a friendly atmosphere. The first two meetings would be held in Hyderabad and the next two in Amaravati. We did not discuss any particular issue today," Ramakrishnudu was quoted as saying.
Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao stated, “The first meeting was quite cordial. All pending issues would be prioritised and sent to the Governor’s office in two or three days for the February 9 meet. We will try our best to settle all issues in an amicable and give-and-take manner while protecting the interests of the State and those of the employees."
After the meeting on February 9, Andhra has proposed that the governor to hold two meetings in their state capital Amaravati.