GoM on Telangana seeks feedback on terms and reference

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, has sought feedback from general public on its terms of reference.

The Home Ministry said the feedback should be related to the terms of reference and should be mailed to feedbacktogom-mha@nic.in.
The GoM, headed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, was constituted to address all the issues that need resolution at the central and state government levels in the matter.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are the members of the GoM.
Minister of State for Personnel and Prime Minister’s Office, V. Narayanasamy, is the Special Invitee on the panel.

The terms of reference for the GoM are:

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;

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;

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;

Look into the special needs of the backward regions and districts of both the states and recommend measures.
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;

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,

Look into issues related to power generation, transmission and distribution between the two states;

Look into the issues arising on account of distribution of assets, public finance, public corporations and liabilities thereof between the two states;

Look into the issues relating to the distribution of the employees in the subordinate as well as All India Services between the two states;

Look into the issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation and examine any other matter that may arise on account of bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh and make suitable recommendations.
The GoM met for the first time on October 11 and gave assurance that the concerns of Andhra Pradesh would be addressed with "fairness and objectivity". The next meeting of the GOM will be held on October 19.