Hyderabad: The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana held a pivotal meeting on Saturday at the Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad.
The meeting concluded on a constructive note, with both leaders agreeing to form two committees: one comprising ministers from each state and another made up of state officials.
This move is aimed at addressing the enduring issues that have lingered since the bifurcation of the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh arrived at the venue around 6:10 PM and was warmly received by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Alongside Reddy were Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, and several ministers, including D Sridhar Babu and Ponnam Prabhakar.
The meeting, which lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes, focused primarily on the division of various state-run institutions and corporations that were listed in Schedules IX and X of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014). The discussions were held in a congenial atmosphere, with both state governments expressing a mutual understanding of the need to resolve these issues in a manner that would not harm the interests of either state.
Among the main topics discussed were the distribution of assets and liabilities of institutions both included and excluded from the Reorganisation Act. The leaders also tackled issues related to power purchases and the outstanding payments for power supplies between the two states. Another significant point of discussion was the handling of fifteen irrigation projects that were constructed in the undivided Andhra Pradesh with foreign funding, along with the debts that have accumulated between the states since the bifurcation.
Additionally, the allocation of certain buildings in Hyderabad that were assigned to Andhra Pradesh during the bifurcation was addressed. The meeting also delved into the equitable distribution of government employees between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ensuring that personnel allocation would be fair and beneficial for both states.
The initiative for these talks was taken by Naidu, who had written to Revanth Reddy the previous week, proposing a face-to-face meeting on July 6. Revanth Reddy responded positively, inviting Naidu for a detailed discussion the very next day. This proactive approach from both leaders underscores their commitment to resolving these long-standing issues and fostering cooperation between the two states.
