Cabinet nod puts to rest speculation on T-Bill, new state to have 10 districts

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday night cleared the bill to create Telangana state. Sticking to the original resolution of the Congress Working Committee, the new state will have only the 10 districts of Telangana region. Rayalseema districts of Kurnool and Anantapur will continue to be part of the residue state.

Reports about the group of ministers on Telangana considering the option of including the two districts had forced TRS and TDP to announce protest plans. Even some Congress ministers from Andhra and Telangana region were cold to this proposal, prompting the government and the Congress leadership to stick to the original proposal. Before the Union Cabinet met on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other members of the Congress core committee met at the PM’s residence to give political clearance to the bill.

Hyderabad, as envisaged by the Congress Working Committee resolution, will remain the joint capital of Telangana and Seemandhra for 10 years and the governor would be in-charge of law and order in the area. Once the state is bifurcated, the new Cabinet of the residual state will use an expert committee to locate the venue for its capital city and the Centre will provide financial assistance to build the new capital. Both states will continue to enjoy special status under Article 371 D of the Constitution, which is adopted in 1973 to provide equitable opportunity for all AP regions.

A river water-sharing authority will be set up to sort out an issue between the two states. The bill cleared by the Cabinet will be sent to the President, who will refer it to the state assembly for its view. Since the endorsement by the assembly is not mandatory, the bill will be moved in Parliament for debate and passage by a simple majority in both Houses. But introduction of the bill would depend on the time the President would give the state assembly for its views, though the Union Home Ministry is keen on tabling the bill in the winter session of Parliament. The government hopes to pass the bill by convening a special session early next year if the bill will not be passed in the winter session.