GoM on Telangana discusses sharing of water, power, assets

The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, today had detailed discussions concerning sharing of river water, power, distribution of assets and demarcating of boundaries at its second meeting here and ordered preparation of reports on every issue.

"The GoM discussed in detail terms of reference. We asked Secretaries of concerned departments to sit together with officials of Andhra Pradesh government and make detailed reports on bifurcation," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reporters after the hour-long meeting.

Shinde said detailed reports department-wise will be prepared and presented before the next meeting of the GoM to be held on November 7.

The Home Minister said that except Defence Minister A K Antony all six members of the ministerial panel attended today's meeting.

"We have received around 2,000 emails (from general public) giving us various information on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. All these are being scrutinised," he said.

The high-powered ministerial panel will also look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years.

The GoM, headed by Shinde, was constituted to address all the issues that need resolution at the central and state government levels in the matter.

After its first meeting on October 11, the GoM had said it would address all concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh with "fairness and objectivity".

The GoM has already discussed the approach and methodology to be adopted by it and said it would take the opinions of stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations.