Employees have nothing to fear: Jairam Ramesh

Allaying the fears of State government employees, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said that no one would be forcibly sent to their respective States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation process is completed on June 2.

“I categorically put it on record that the Kamalnathan Committee constituted to examine the division of State-level government staff will take into account their views. Nothing will be done forcibly. The views of employees’ associations will be given serious consideration,” Mr. Ramesh said on Saturday.

Two committees have been constituted for division of government staff -- one being the All-India Services officers and others, the State-level staff. Among the State-level staff, there are three categories covering local, district and State-level posts. There are about 80,000 State-level employees liable for transfer between the two States.

On the pensions, he said 3.4 lakh pensioners would go to AP and 2.4 lakh to Telangana. The monthly pension liability for Telangana would be Rs. 500 crore while it would be Rs. 700 crore for AP.

Elaborating on the ongoing exercise on bifurcation, Mr. Ramesh at a press conference here said that by April 30 all the 21 committees constituted to work in division would submit their reports. He said with the appointed day being June 2, a number of steps have been taken in the recent weeks. “I had held a review meeting with the Chief Secretary and other State government officials to study the progress,” he said.

He reeled out interesting facts about the bifurcation-related exercise, stating that as many 26 lakh files have been collated, digitised and categorised as belonging to the new State of Telangana and successor State of AP. About 1.4 lakh agreements have been signed by the AP government on various subjects, he said, pointing out that of this 62,000 agreements pertained to Telangana and 75,000 to the State of AP. The value of agreements going to Telangana amounted to Rs. 1.88 lakh crore while it is Rs. 97,000 crore for AP. Assets of AP Bhavan spread over 15 acres would also be divided between the two States.

On the common capital area, Mr. Ramesh said it falls in GHMC limits, adding the exercise to identify the buildings going to governments of Telangana and AP had been completed. Roughly, about 85,000 square metres plinth area is covered for suggested allocation. He said 119 companies and State-run corporations would also be divided before June 2.

On water resources, the Union Minister said an apex council headed by the Union Water Resources Minister and two Chief Ministers would be constituted to handle planning and disputes settlement. The Tungabhadra Board would be reconstituted to include representation from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States.

Krishna and Godavari river boards would be constituted separately with experts from technical and administrative backgrounds being taken on board. He said the term of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar has been extended till July 31 this year.

The Union Minister also spoke about creation of two separate High Courts. The Governor has written to the Chief Justice of India as well as the Chief Justice of AP High Court, he said, adding that two separate Public Services Commissions would be functional after the appointed day. He pointed out that Union government would shortly issue a circular regarding the special powers given to the Governor during when Hyderabad would be the common capital for 10 years.