Creation of Telangana state expected to be completed in six months

NEW DELHI: It is likely to take at least six months for the proposed new state of Telangana to see the light of the day as the move involves a number of steps, including adoption of state re-organisation bill by Parliament by a simple majority.

After the Union Cabinet's approval today for the creation of Telangana and formation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out modalities, a series of steps is expected to follow in coming weeks involving both the central and state governments.

The GoM will comprise Ministers of Home, Finance, HRD, Health, Irrigation, Power, Environment and Forests, Railways and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and it will go into the economic issues on the creation of country's 29th state.

The Ministry of Finance will appoint an expert committee to recommend measures for smooth transition in terms of financial management and viability of the reorganised state.

In view of the normative economic factors that would operate in the remaining state of Andhra Pradesh consequent upon formation of Telangana state, a dedicated unit will be set up in the Planning Commission to deal exclusively with the re-organised state under the direct charge of the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.

The unit will ensure that, with the help of better financial management and adequate devolution of funds from the Centre, multifaceted development of the region takes place, especially with respect to core infrastructure.

The Union Home Ministry will prepare another note for the Union Cabinet with the re-organisation bill on the basis of the recommendations and suggestions of the GoM requesting the Union Cabinet to approve the State Re-organisation bill and to recommend to the President to refer the Bill to the legislature of the state.