Guv orders reallocation of AP govt buildings to T'gana

In a significant development, Governor E S L Narasimhan Sunday ordered re-allocation of all government buildings here that were earmarked for Andhra Pradesh at the time of its bifurcation in 2014, to Telangana government.

Since the AP government was functioning from its capital Amaravati, the official buildings allocated to it were lying vacant, an official release said.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor Narasimhan issued orders reallocating the buildings to the newly carved out state in accordance with the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 following the consent given by the Chief Ministers of the two neighbouring states, it said.

At the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, government buildings in Hyderabad were allocated equally to the two state governments.

However, the AP government was paying electricity bills and other maintenance costs of the buildings though it was not utilising them.

The order was issued as per Section 8 of the APRA, 2014, after the two Chief Ministers - Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and K Chandrasekhar Rao consented to the re-allocation of the buildings.

Hyderabad remains the common capital of AP and Telangana till June 1, 2024 as per the APRA, 2014.

The release said most of the buildings were in a "dilapidated condition" since they were not utilised.

Two buildings, one for the police and another for other department offices would be earmarked in Hyderabad for use by the AP government, it added.

Welcoming the Governor's orders, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao termed it as an "auspicious sign."