Cong RS MPs from AP, TS ask govt to fulfill assurances

New Delhi: Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Friday asked the government to fulfill the assurances they gave as opposition party in 2014, when the states were bifurcated.

K V P Ramachandra Rao Congress MP from Telangana during the private members business moved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

He said that several assurances were given to both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on issues such as financial help among others and it also included leaders from the BJP who were then in Opposition.
Ramachandra Rao added that Polavaram irrigation project should also be completed, as promised by 2018. Moving the bill, Rao said the states are going through tough times and the Centre needs to provide assistance to them urgently.

Congress member from Andhra Pradesh Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu said the state is not asking for anything more than what was promised to it. He added that Andhra Pradesh is facing financial troubles and the Centre need to provide assistance to it. He added that the promises made to Seemandhra (new Andhra Pradesh) such as the special category status, completing the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project, provision of funds for building the state's capital city among others, should be fulfilled.

K Keshava Rao (TRS) said the bill was passed lot of assurances were given both by the government and opposition. Venkaiah Naidu had then given assurances and they need to be fulfilled as well as assurances given by Jairam Ramesh. These assurances regarding deficit financing, special category, etc, which were promised should be fulfilled, he added.

Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 provides for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into the successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It also addresses revenue distribution, distribution of cash and credit balances, management and development of water resources among a host of issues.

The Centre has already said that it is talking to both the state governments and elected representatives on various issues and will move for amendments to the Act only after a broad consensus is achieved.

During Special Mention, Palvai Govardhan Reddy (Cong) raised the issue of rehabilitation of the Polavaram project affected people and said that proper attention should be given to the issue.

PTI