The Hindu              06.12.2013

GHMC limits to be common capital area, says Shinde

Clearing the confusion, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde announced that Telangana would comprise ten districts and the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh 13 districts, while Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)limits would be the common capital not exceeding ten years.

Addressing a press conference after the Union Cabinet cleared the draft Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Bill prepared by the Group of Ministers, Mr. Shinde said the Governor of the proposed Telangana State will take care of security in the common capital and would be assisted by two advisors nominated by the Union government. These steps are expected to address the concerns of the people of Seemandhra over their safety in Hyderabad.

He said an expert committee would be constituted to decide upon the new capital for Andhra Pradesh in 45 days while Article 371-D, another contentious issue, has been made applicable to the two successor States — Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Polavaram would be taken up as a national project and committees would be constituted for equitable distribution of water resources, power and assets and liabilities.

Mr. Shinde said the Bill would be sent to the President in a day or two and the Centre expected the Bill to be introduced in the Parliament during the current winter session.

The Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Group of Ministers which carried out an elaborate exercise of meeting all the stakeholders, political parties and the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Union Cabinet colleagues.