G.O. 610 & TELANGANA: History is Repeating Itself
Dr. K. Jayashankar (Former Vice-Chancellor)
The ongoing debate about the much publicised G.O. 610 has made one thing clear, i.e. the history is repeating itself. This order issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in December 1985 and required to be implemented by March 1986 is yet to be implemented. It has created a situation similar to the one created 34 years ago by G.O.36 of January 1969. If one recalls as to what had happened then, it should not be difficult to visualise as to what would happen now. The G.O. 610 will not be implemented - it is as simple as that.
The 1969 Fiasco:
In an attempt to sort out the issues that had contributed to the Separate Telangana Movement of 1968-69, the State Government of the time issued an order that has come to be known as G.O. 36 of January 1969. It was aimed at repatriating about twenty five thousand non-Mulki (non local) employees illegally appointed in the Telangana region, to their respective places and appointing local candidates in the resultant vacancies. But, the non-Mulkies appointed in the Telangana region challenged not only G.O.36 but also the very validity of what were known as Mulki Rules. After a prolonged litigation, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of Mulki Rules and facilitated implementation of G.O. 36. The political elite of Andhra and the non-Mulki employees appointed in Telangana, however, did not digest it. The result was a violent movement for a separate Andhra state. The leaders of that movement demanded either scrapping of the judgement of Supreme Court of India validating Mulki Rules, and also other safeguards, or bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra and Telangana states. It should be recalled that, among others, Chandrababu Naidu and Venkaiah Naidu were in the forefront of that movement. The Government of India of the time yielded to the pressure of political might and money power of the majority region and nullified, by an act of parliament, the judgement of Supreme Court of India, besides scrapping several safeguards given to the people of Telangana as a precondition for the formation of Andhra Pradesh. Consequently, all irregular appointments were regularised, depriving local candidates of their rightful claims over those jobs.
The Present Scenario:
After nullifying the Mulki Rules, the so called Six-point formula - a diluted form of safeguards - was foisted on the people. Even this formula has been, and continues to be, violated with impunity, robbing the people of Telangana of whatever little was left in the name of safeguards. It was estimated that between 1973 and 1985 around fifty nine thousand non locals were recruited in the Telangana region. As a result, the people of the region became once again restive and the government was compelled to issue G.O. 610 to rectify the situation. The sum and substance of G.O.610 was to repatriate all non local candidates illegally appointed in the Telangana region to their native zones and appoint local candidates in the resultant vacancies. The entire process was to be completed by the end of March 1986.
But, no one remembered even the existence of this order, until the revival of demand for a separate state of Telangana gathered momentum in 1996. The State Government which was in slumber for so long a time then woke up and started making promises of implementing this G.O. About three years ago, a one-man commission was appointed to work out the modalities. Even before the commission completed its work, this task was entrusted to a house committee of the state legislature. It is nearly two years since this house committee was appointed, but it is yet to complete its work. It has so far given only an interim report.
It should to be noted that the number of employees recruited between 1973 and 1985, violating the statutory requirements, was estimated to be around fifty nine thousand. There could be difference of opinion about the figure. Whatever the number, it was as in December 1985. Since then, neither the G.O. has been implemented nor making illegal appointments stopped. Therefore, the first thing to be done in this regard is to work out the number of these appointments made from 1973 till now, spanning a period of nearly two decades. According to several unofficial, but reliable, surveys the figure has already crossed two Lakhs. The house committee of the state legislature has not yet done anything tangible to arrive at the number of illegal appointments made in several departments at various levels i.e. district, zone, and region. It has not, so far, looked in to the appointments made in the state level offices and organisations to ascertain whether equitable employment opportunities were provided to the people of this region. It is yet to look in to the complaints regarding the appointments made on the strength of bogus certificates of nativity. It has, as of now, identified only a few hundred positions, mostly in the capital city and a couple of small departments. The bulk of the work is yet to be done. The interim report of the house committee is, therefore, like the tip of an iceberg. Even this interim report has not been implemented so far. On the contrary, unnecessary legal cobwebs and procedural wrangles are being created. Meanwhile, the tenure of present legislative assembly itself is coming to an end. With this scenario, can any one expect that this order is going to be implemented? It is evident that what had happened to G.O.36 of 1969 is bound to happen to G.O. 610 of 1985 as well - history will repeat itself.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Telangana Today: Status paper
P.L.Vishweshwer Rao (Professor, Osmania University)
The long-suppressed agony of Telangana people is finding expression once again in their aspirations for independent existence and separate identity. After the great betrayal of 1971, they have once again gathered strength to assert themselves; they prepared to stake their all for realization of their dream to be free from the bondage to the people of coastal Andhra.
No movement, no struggle has ever started from the top: from intellectuals, thinkers, political and other leaders, elected representatives and so on. Inevitably, the struggles begin from people - the people give expression to their suffering because it is they who are victims of status quo. The long-dormant hope in the people of Telangana was awakened with the announcement as statehood for Uttarakhand by the Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Within a year it has gathered so much strength that politicians, realizing its potential have jumped on to its bandwagon. Such disparate schools of thought as People's War Group and Bharatiya Janata Party have supported statehood for Telangana.
Why Telangana State?
Because successive governments and ruling political parties have not only neglected to develop Telangana but have systematically exploited it, denying its share of funds, grabbing its rich, fertile land, exploiting its mineral riches and impoverishing its people. Telangana people have been looked down upon, their language derided, their customs and traditions scorned at, their land grabbed, their houses snatched away. They have been discriminated against in recruitment and developmental programmes. In short, they were colonized in 1956 even as the country threw off colonial yoke.
Let us see a conscious, deliberate well-thought out and implemented conspiracy has worked against the interests of Telangana in the fields of education, irrigation, employment, industrialization, and allotment of funds and the region's share in income for its development. Even in cropping pattern is changing for the worse in Telangana, its traditional food crops being replaced with commercial crops with disastrous consequences.
Education
Elementary education is recognized as one of the fundamental human rights. And yet this human right has been denied to the people of Telangana: the region has the lowest literacy rate and minimal educational infrastructure in the state.
Andhra Pradesh, with a literacy rate of 44.09 percent ranks among the least literate state. It ranks 26th in the country out of 31 states and Union Territories. It is the most backward in the entire south. As many as eight districts of Telangana out of 10 (including Hyderabad) figure among the most backward educationally. Mahbubnagar has the least literacy rate, both among males(40.8 per cent) and females(18 percent). The entire Telangana, except Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy Urban areas which are Hyderabad, has lagged behind educationally. Not a single mandal of Telangana has the national literacy rate of 52.19 percent. Coastal Andhra districts account for 33 out of 45 rural mandals which exceeds the national literacy rate (the rest being Rayalaseema). The mandals with lowest literacy rate of less than 20 percent are more in Telangana, as a consequence: 35 such mandals are in Telangana, almost three times those in Coastal Andhra (14). There are only two such mandals in Rayalaseema. District-wise, Adilabad has most of these mandals (14), followed by Mahbubnagar (9), Medak (6), Khammam (3) and Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Nalgonda (one each).
Although Telangana accounts for half of the state's population, less than 25 percent of educational institutions from primary to college level are situated in the region. Only 15 percent of aided junior colleges are in Telangana while it has only two medical colleges. As many as six medical colleges are in the other areas. The region is discriminated in the field of technical education also. Only 26 out of the 72 government ITIs, 20 of the 91 polytechnic colleges are in Telangana. The gross injustice to Telangana can be seen from expenditure on education. Of the total expenditure of Rs 1150.2 crore the state has incurred on the aided degree colleges since 1956, coastal Andhra cornered the loin's share of 73.71 percent while Telangana got a paltry 10.43 percent. The corresponding share of the two regions in the expenditure incurred on the aided junior colleges is 62.71 percent and 9.45 percent, respectively. In this kind of lopsidedness, how can literacy spread? This is no accident; it cannot be especially since it has continued since 1956, and it pervades all type of education - school, college, professional and technical. This discrimination is deliberate, conscious and planned given its spread, the extent, and all-pervasiveness, it cannot be anything but a conspiracy against the people of Telangana.
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Irrigation
Of the three regions of the state, Telangana has the largest area, with 11,48,000 sq km, followed by coastal Andhra with 9,28,000 sq km. The cultivable area is estimated at 64,02,358 hectares in Telangana and 46,33,304 hectares in the Coastal Andhra. But 13,12,795 hectares or 28.33 percent of the cultivable land in the Coastal Andhra is being irrigated under canal irrigation system, whereas 2,66,964 hectares or 4.17 percent of the cultivable land in Telangana is receiving canal waters. The entitlement of Telangana of waters of Krishna and Godavari rivers is 975 tmc. ft. In 1974, 800 tmc.ft water was allotted to AP by the Bachawat Award to Andhra Pradesh. A re-distribution of this in 1981 saw coastal Andhra getting the major share with 377.07 tmc, Telangana 266.783 tmc and Rayalaseema 123 tmc. Telangana's share in Godavari waters is 709 tmc.ft of the state's total allotment of 1,495 tmc.ft. Out of its total share 1153.50 tmc (from all sources) barely 380 tmc is used for irrigation.
The discrimination against Telangana stands out glaringly in the amounts spent by the state on irrigation. The amount spent in Telangana so far is Rs. 4005 crores while that spent in Coastal Andhra is Rs. 19,693.50 crores, nearly five times higher. In terms of percentage, while Telangana got a mere 15.5 percent, coastal Andhra got 76 percent. If the principle of expenditure proportionate to cultivable area were to be followed (as it should be), Telangana, with 44.28 percent cultivable area should have got an equivalent amount and coastal Andhra 32.04 percent. Instead, coastal Andhra got more than twice its share.
Since 1956 to date, the additional irrigation potential created in Telangana is only 5 percent since none of the planned irrigation projects have been completed although they were planned 30-40 years ago. The 12 projects sanctioned for Telangana at an estimated cost Rs. 5,449.53 crore to provide for 10.08 lakh hectares have been progressing at snail's pace for decades.
The Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) was started 1n 1963 and is yet to be completed. Even the first phase of the project was not completed after 33 years. The rehabilitation of the displaced people under this project is still pending. The Bheema project, which is older than Andhra Pradesh has remained on paper. Jurala, Icchampally too have languished. While experts and decision makers debate interminably and have still not decided on Srisailam Left Bank Canal (which is to irrigate about 3 lakhs hectares in Telangana), to supply water either through lift or tunnel. The Srisailam Right Bank Canal feeding the coastal districts progresses steadily. Even the 33 medium projects proposed in Telangana which could utilize 80 to 100 tmc of water at a cost Rs 500 crore have been kept pending. Compare this delay with alacrity attending on the Telugu Ganga project: it got funds allocated consistently year after year, within 12 years of its grounding, the project is supplying water to Chennai.
Even budgetary allocation are not fully spent on projects benefiting Telangana. For the Bheema lift irrigation scheme, the budgetary allocation was nine crore rupees in 1996-97, which was pruned to Rs 10 lakhs. Subsequently, only six lakh rupees were spent. On the SRSP, only six crore rupees were spent during 1996-97 against an allocation of Rs 25 crores. In 33 years only Rs 978 crores had been spent on SRSP. And yet Rs 1075 crores were spent on Telugu Ganga in 12 years.
Callous indifference and neglect of maintenance of tanks in Telangana has reduced the area under tank irrigation by half, an unprecedented occurrence. In 1956-57, 4,47 lakh hectares were under tank irrigation which has come down to 2.26 lakh hectares. This increasingly made Telangana farmers resort to exploiting groundwater which is suicidal for a semi-arid region. This dependence on pumpsets saw a great tragedy befall Telangana farmers early this year: as power supply was erratic, irregular and of low quality (low voltage), they incurred huge losses as other region suffered as much due to power scarcity as Telangana.
Power Situation
As irrigation projects for Telangana got bogged down in delays, cost-overruns, controversies, power generation projects too suffered. The Srisailam Left bank canal is one such project. Only 1543 mw of power is generated in this region whereas the generating capacity of the other two regions is 7477 mw. All power situations with the exception Ramagundam and Kothagudem are located outside Telangana, although Telangana accounts for a major share of power consumption and more than three-fourths of catchment area of Krishna and Godavari rivers is in Telangana. That the needs of Telangana are at the bottom of priorities of the government is evident from the fact as many as two lakh applications for new power connection is pending with the government. Yet, there is no plan to increase the power generating capacity in Telangana even as two lakh people wait in vain for a power connection.
Changing Crop Pattern
A dangerous and little-noticed development that threatens Telangana is the changing cropping pattern in the region with food crops giving away to cash crops. The change has been taking place over two decades now with food crops suitable for semi-arid regions giving way to water-intensive cash crops. Staple cereals such as jawar, maize and bajra preferred by local people, serving as food for them and fodder for their cattle have declined significantly in area. The area under jawar has come down from 13,63,169 hectares to 7,97,864 hectares during 1981-84 to 1990-93. Bajra declined from 1,94,981 hectares to 64,398 hectares and maize fell to 2,55,863 hectares from 3,17,098 hectares. Coarse cereals have been the major staple food for millions of people in the area and a shift from these crops needs to be understood in the context of the needs of the people most of whom continue to languish in poverty. Groundnut, castor, sunflower, cotton, chillies and sugarcane have witnessed considerable growth in cropped area. While sunflower registered 500 percent growth, it is more than 100 percent in case of cotton. Except for castor and groundnut, all other crops have entered the region quite recently.
While it may seem strange that the impoverished farmers of Telangana are opting for water-intensive cash crops in the place of rain-fed food crops, the fact is that this change has been brought about the migrant farmers and not the native ones. Settled in tracts irrigated by Nagarjunasagar and Sriransagar canals, these farmers who came to Telangana in 50s and 60s have adopted sugarcane, sunflower, chillies, cotton and groundnut since returns on them are higher than on traditional crops. Liberalization and opening of the market has come as god-sent opportunity to these farmers to make more money at he cost of the people of Telangana.
In Medak, where cotton has been introduced by the Coastal Andhra farmers on a wide scale, the people realized the dangers from it: it introduced new pests to the region and new diseases since the crop requires heavy doses of strong pesticides, and more important, the change in their dietary habits, from jawar and maize to rice had come with high undesirable price: insufficient nutrition to them and shortage of fodder for their cattle. Helped by NGO, the people have gone back to their traditional crops, which have provided them since time immemorial, food and fodder.
Another development as a result of this change is the rise of a merchant class in towns dealing in these inputs, a majority of whom are immigrants from coastal area. The cash-rich migrants beat the local entrepreneurs and farmers out of the market.
Employment in Government
The entire government and its various departments are dominated by people of Coastal Andhra. This pattern has been a blatant violation of agreement to share government jobs between Andhra and Telangana in the ratio of 2:1. Out of 14 lakh jobs in the government today(1997 figures), Telangana's share has been barely two lakhs and these too are in lower levels. Similarly, of the 531 judicial officers, only 92 belong to the region. Of the 22 judges in the state high court, there are only two representing Telangana. Moreover, no one from Telangana could become the advocate-general since the state was formed in 1956. On the educational front, of the 96,031 primary teachers, only 15,921 belong to Telangana. All the top and middle level jobs cornered by Andhra people: there's not a single secretary in the government today belonging to Telangana. Out of 140 heads of department in the government barring a handful, all are from Coastal Andhra. Public and private undertakings, autonomous bodies, corporations and universities have been made the monopoly of Andhras.
Rules have been twisted, manipulated or simply ignored to ensure government jobs went to those from coastal a Andhras and to keep out Telangana people. The present trend is to keep out the Telangana people even from the posts of peons, bus conductors and drivers. The new recruits are all brought over from coastal districts. This strategy has been adopted since 1956 despite agreements entered into, working out the procedure and share. For instance, in 1966, all of the 70,000 vacancies, of which 90 percent went to the people of Andhra.
The latest example is that of recruitment of more than 200 munisif magistrates, the highest post under direct recruitment. In course of time, they will become district and high court judges. Evidently, with an eye on capturing these crucial posts, the procedure has been changed, more centers of examinations opened in coastal Andhra towns, and it was ensured that an overwhelming majority of examiners chosen belong to Coastal Andhra: 50 of 55 judges-examiners were Andhras. The written examination was held on February 23, 1997. The results were predictable: 68 candidates (80 percent of them from Andhra region) passed from Hyderabad; Warangal ( the only center in Telangana) was only 15. Visakapatnam accounted for 85, Vijaywada 75 and Tirupati 47 successful candidates. Only 30 candidates out of 290 called for interview are from Telangana.
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Industrial Development
Industrialization of Telangana has been restricted to the Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy district due to their physical proximity to the seat of the government. Industries in other parts of Telangana did not take off other than those set up prior to 1956. Several industries in Telangana have been allowed to become sick with government refusing to help out to restore them. Today, more and more PSUs such as Allwyn Auto and Republic Forge, located in Telangana are being closed down by the government for various reason. Those threatened include Antargoan and Sirpur Sirsilk Mills. Others in the line for closure are Nizams Sugar factory, FCI at Godavarikhani and Miryalguda Sugar Mill.
According to data, a major chunk of the existing medium and major industrial units in Telangana are owned by people from coastal Andhra. Of the 10,0000 odd units located in Telangana, only 1250 units are owned by the native Telanganites. Coastal Andhra industrialists own 6000 units and the rest are owned by outsiders from different parts of the country. With regard to employment in these industrial units, only 23 percent belong to Telangana, the rest hail from the Coastal Andhra region.
Budget Allocation
In terms of budget allocations, the pattern is the same: denial, deprivation and diversion. Based on area and population, Telangana should get 39-44 percent of the state's budget allocations. But at no point did its allocation exceed 30 percent. Yet Telangana contributes 42 percent of revenue to the state exchequer. Besides, according to some reports, as much as Rs 5000 crores allocated to Telangana under various heads by successive state governments have been diverted to the coastal Andhra region in the past two decades. This is hardly unbelievable since diversion of all kinds of wealth and resources including Telangana's share of water, has become a regular practice. The plunder and exploitation of Telangana to benefit the coastal Andhra region and its people has been planned, constant and systematic.
The utter indifference of the officials toward Telangana can be seen from a recent occurrence. The Nizamsagar dam on Manjira river, built in 1931 was designed to irrigate 1.1 lakh hectares but enormous siltation over the years has reduced its ayacut by half. A satellite mapping has shown that all its major distributaries (83 in number) and minor distributaries (243) have been silted up as the canal bunds eroded. Nine gates of the dam meant for letting silt escape from the reservoir has been jammed for the past 20 years, reducing the capacity of the reservoir. Nothing has been done to rectify them. In 1992-93, the World bank lent Rs 30 crores for Nizamsagr through its Natural Water Program for remodeling the project. The government utilized only six crores rupees and the rest of the amount lapsed. The state government failed to get the loan revived. A high-powered committee went into question of finding funds for the project and submitted its recommendations in 1994. They have remained on the paper.
Similar is the situation of all major and minor irrigation sources all over Telangana. Breached bunds siltation, infestation by water hyacinth have slowly killed them in places, reduced their ayacut, forcing farmers to drill borewells and open wells as in Toopran mandal of Medak district. This has affected the water table in the region. Medak has as many as 1.2 lakh borewells, all dug in the last few years.
Diversion of resources from an area to another to benefit the latter is feature of colonizer. And this has been going for several decades. Water from Krishana and Godavari, coal from Singareni, limestone for cement factories owned by Andhra entrepreneurs, revenue from Telangana are all diverted to Coastal Andhra region, or Andhra businessmen and entrepreneurs of Andhra settlers in Telangana. The result has been the impoverishment of the people of Telangana, slow and tardy development of the region, oppression of the people by unemployment, discrimination and lack of opportunities.
Statehood is the only Answer to Telangana's Suffering
For hundreds of years, people from various parts of India made Telangana their home. There have never been any instance of intolerance of Telangana people towards them. To the credit of the immigrants, they too adopted the local culture, and contributed some their own to Telangana culture. However, the Andhras were a different category. They came, made their home and life in Telangana, and in a few years, assumed a superior, arrogant posture, looking down upon the Telangana people. Gradually, people who had come looking for opportunities, displaced the local people from every field. This brings to mind the pattern followed by European immigrants to the Americas and the English in India, in fact colonizers everywhere: they come as guests, stay as friends, turn occupiers, and overtime, shunt out the local people to reservations refusing them a place of respect in their dispensation, treating as a lower class citizens.
Case for Smaller States
Whether it is a case of state of Jharkhand or Telangana, the demand for a separate state is opposed mainly by those who have benefited from the exploitation of the disaffected people, just as colonizers everywhere. Several arguments have been put forth against the need, viability and purpose of Telangana. Most important, will Telangana become reality? And if it does, will it eradicate the problems of backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment?
Need for Telangana
For all the above reasons discussed above, Telangana has to separate. Another important reason is that the merger of the two regions in 1956 did not result in the merger of their hearts, nor have the last 40 years led to emotional integration. Quite to the contrary, in fact, because the economic inequality has grown, the developmental divide has become a chasm and the cultural differences have moved the two people further away. This is because over the last four decades, the relationship of two unequal partners deteriorated into one of oppressor - oppressed, exploiter - exploited. colonizer - colonized. The division has so greatly deepened that there's no going back.. history, attitudes, prejudices cannot be undone easily.
The common language, Telugu, has been devisive rather than unifying factor because that has been the major, most visible and universally experienced by Telangana people. They have been discriminated against, humiliated and ridiculed for the language they speak. If English language is the one dividing factor between English and American people, it is even more so between the people of Telangana and Coastal Andhra: they have been divided by a common language. This one factor rejects the premise of the state reorganization committee that language binds.
Can a backward region develop economically independently? Or does its future lie in a larger state? Experience of larger states like UP, MP and Bihar has shown that size impedes rather than promotes development - the backward remain backward; the administration is unwieldy, and the growth concentrated in pockets. The answer lies in smaller states where decentralization of administration is possible; developmental activities can be more focused in smaller areas; and people can be involved in the process of development, which is a major factor in giving a push to development. An example of how smaller, backward region can come into its own after separating from the more developed region can be seen in Harayana after breaking away from Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
Today in India, almost every large state is facing the demand from its backward, neglected, culturally different people to be recognized as different and given independent status and separate identity. Apart from Telangana, 11 regions are seeking statehood, and these are: Vidarbha (Maharastra), Saurastra(Gujarat), Chattisgarh(Madya Pradesh), Malwa, Bundelkhand( both comprising parts of MP and UP), Pancahl Pradesh (Western UP), Poorvanchal (Eastern UP), Uttarkhand (UP), Bodoland (Assam) Gorkhaland( West Bengal) and Jharkhand ( Bihar).
The size of the state cannot be a factor for its viability, as it is being argued by some. If that factor were top be applied, then Telangana should be considered first since there are at least five existing states that are smaller than Telangana. Telangana with 11.48 lakh square kilometers area, 107 Assembly and 14 Parliament constituencies with three crore population is larger than the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Hoimachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Another 49 assembly constituencies and nine parliament constituencies will be added to the present 107 assembly and 14 loka Sabha seats once the constituencies reorganized.
There is nothing sacrosanct about the 1956 merger that it has to be retained at the cost of the people of Telangana. The demand for separate state is neither undemocratic nor unconstitutional. In fact, by refusing to heed the genuine aspirations of the people, the rulers are being undemocratic. They are trying to supress the movement only to protect their own interests and hegemony over Telangana. The ceded districts of Madras Presidency - the Costal Andhra districts - put forth several reasons justfying their demand for separate state in the 1950s.They are extremely similar to those put forward by the people of Tlanga today: political and cultural domination by the Tamils; economic exploitation, discrimination in employment and education, uneven development of the land of the Telugus and jeopardy to the individuality and self-respect of the Telugu people.
The late K .Kaleshwara Rao, the first Speaker of the AP Legislative Assembly in his autobiography expanded on the perception of Andhras under Tamilians, that the latter had greater influence in the legislature, executive and judiciary and the Andhra district were neglected in industries, power, employment, education and economic development. "There are nine bridges across Cauvery but not even one on Krishna and Godavari…the pace of development of towns in Andhra area is no comparison to that of Tamil districts," he said. Supporting the movement for a separate Andhra state, an editorial in Andhra Patrika said, "If a separate state is formed, the very reason for Telugus' backwardness will disappear." If a separate state was an answer to Andhras' development in 1953, why can't a similar solution be adopted for Telangana in 1997?
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Agenda for a Separate Telangana State
It is extremely important that if our efforts for a separate state are to succeed we have a clear vision of the future of its people. An agenda needs to be developed through a pooling of ideas, tasks prioritized, and plans outlined to tackle the major problems facing the people.
Blueprints would have to be drawn up for a social and economic development of the people. An action plan is necessary for the immediate tasks on hand, such as land reforms. This could be worked out to be completed within a time-frame to avoid the pitfalls of earlier well-meaning intentions that were hijacked by vested interests in free India.
Universal educational should be the first priority; special efforts should be made make access to education available to the Dalits, women and minorities. This task too should be achieved within a specific time-frame.
Other priorities should be safe drinking water in all villages, electricity and health for all. The rich mineral resources of Telangana, the fertile soil, massive irrigation potential and the hard-working nature of its people will help them to realize their dreams.
A word about the support PWG has extended to Telangana state.: it is welcome, as is all support, from within Telangana and outside. Given the political dominance and brute majority enjoyed by ruling Telugu Desam Party in the Assembly, given the control of the mass media by Coastal Andhra people, and given the threat a separate Telangana poses to the entrenched economic interests that have grown at the cost of Telangana people, any and all support is necessary to carry the struggle forward.
The statement of PWG that it will only support and not lead the agitation should lay to rest apprehensions of break out of violence, or that the struggle for Telangana would be hijacked by PWG. Solidarity and unity of all people, of all ideologies, of all persuasions is the need of the hour.
Another fear, perfectly justified, is that the support of PWG might be used by the state to suppress the Telangana movement. The government has found it convenient to blame PWG for the continuing backwardness of the region, for the agitation of the farmers against low voltage, and for many struggles taking place all over Telangana for justice. There is every danger of the government using the excuse of PWG support to Telangana to crackdown on the movement to suppress it. That is why the movement has to be democratic, peaceful and non-violent.
P.L.Vishweshwer Rao (Professor, Osmania University)
The long-suppressed agony of Telangana people is finding expression once again in their aspirations for independent existence and separate identity. After the great betrayal of 1971, they have once again gathered strength to assert themselves; they prepared to stake their all for realization of their dream to be free from the bondage to the people of coastal Andhra.
No movement, no struggle has ever started from the top: from intellectuals, thinkers, political and other leaders, elected representatives and so on. Inevitably, the struggles begin from people - the people give expression to their suffering because it is they who are victims of status quo. The long-dormant hope in the people of Telangana was awakened with the announcement as statehood for Uttarakhand by the Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Within a year it has gathered so much strength that politicians, realizing its potential have jumped on to its bandwagon. Such disparate schools of thought as People's War Group and Bharatiya Janata Party have supported statehood for Telangana.
Why Telangana State?
Because successive governments and ruling political parties have not only neglected to develop Telangana but have systematically exploited it, denying its share of funds, grabbing its rich, fertile land, exploiting its mineral riches and impoverishing its people. Telangana people have been looked down upon, their language derided, their customs and traditions scorned at, their land grabbed, their houses snatched away. They have been discriminated against in recruitment and developmental programmes. In short, they were colonized in 1956 even as the country threw off colonial yoke.
Let us see a conscious, deliberate well-thought out and implemented conspiracy has worked against the interests of Telangana in the fields of education, irrigation, employment, industrialization, and allotment of funds and the region's share in income for its development. Even in cropping pattern is changing for the worse in Telangana, its traditional food crops being replaced with commercial crops with disastrous consequences.
Education
Elementary education is recognized as one of the fundamental human rights. And yet this human right has been denied to the people of Telangana: the region has the lowest literacy rate and minimal educational infrastructure in the state.
Andhra Pradesh, with a literacy rate of 44.09 percent ranks among the least literate state. It ranks 26th in the country out of 31 states and Union Territories. It is the most backward in the entire south. As many as eight districts of Telangana out of 10 (including Hyderabad) figure among the most backward educationally. Mahbubnagar has the least literacy rate, both among males(40.8 per cent) and females(18 percent). The entire Telangana, except Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy Urban areas which are Hyderabad, has lagged behind educationally. Not a single mandal of Telangana has the national literacy rate of 52.19 percent. Coastal Andhra districts account for 33 out of 45 rural mandals which exceeds the national literacy rate (the rest being Rayalaseema). The mandals with lowest literacy rate of less than 20 percent are more in Telangana, as a consequence: 35 such mandals are in Telangana, almost three times those in Coastal Andhra (14). There are only two such mandals in Rayalaseema. District-wise, Adilabad has most of these mandals (14), followed by Mahbubnagar (9), Medak (6), Khammam (3) and Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Nalgonda (one each).
Although Telangana accounts for half of the state's population, less than 25 percent of educational institutions from primary to college level are situated in the region. Only 15 percent of aided junior colleges are in Telangana while it has only two medical colleges. As many as six medical colleges are in the other areas. The region is discriminated in the field of technical education also. Only 26 out of the 72 government ITIs, 20 of the 91 polytechnic colleges are in Telangana. The gross injustice to Telangana can be seen from expenditure on education. Of the total expenditure of Rs 1150.2 crore the state has incurred on the aided degree colleges since 1956, coastal Andhra cornered the loin's share of 73.71 percent while Telangana got a paltry 10.43 percent. The corresponding share of the two regions in the expenditure incurred on the aided junior colleges is 62.71 percent and 9.45 percent, respectively. In this kind of lopsidedness, how can literacy spread? This is no accident; it cannot be especially since it has continued since 1956, and it pervades all type of education - school, college, professional and technical. This discrimination is deliberate, conscious and planned given its spread, the extent, and all-pervasiveness, it cannot be anything but a conspiracy against the people of Telangana.
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Irrigation
Of the three regions of the state, Telangana has the largest area, with 11,48,000 sq km, followed by coastal Andhra with 9,28,000 sq km. The cultivable area is estimated at 64,02,358 hectares in Telangana and 46,33,304 hectares in the Coastal Andhra. But 13,12,795 hectares or 28.33 percent of the cultivable land in the Coastal Andhra is being irrigated under canal irrigation system, whereas 2,66,964 hectares or 4.17 percent of the cultivable land in Telangana is receiving canal waters. The entitlement of Telangana of waters of Krishna and Godavari rivers is 975 tmc. ft. In 1974, 800 tmc.ft water was allotted to AP by the Bachawat Award to Andhra Pradesh. A re-distribution of this in 1981 saw coastal Andhra getting the major share with 377.07 tmc, Telangana 266.783 tmc and Rayalaseema 123 tmc. Telangana's share in Godavari waters is 709 tmc.ft of the state's total allotment of 1,495 tmc.ft. Out of its total share 1153.50 tmc (from all sources) barely 380 tmc is used for irrigation.
The discrimination against Telangana stands out glaringly in the amounts spent by the state on irrigation. The amount spent in Telangana so far is Rs. 4005 crores while that spent in Coastal Andhra is Rs. 19,693.50 crores, nearly five times higher. In terms of percentage, while Telangana got a mere 15.5 percent, coastal Andhra got 76 percent. If the principle of expenditure proportionate to cultivable area were to be followed (as it should be), Telangana, with 44.28 percent cultivable area should have got an equivalent amount and coastal Andhra 32.04 percent. Instead, coastal Andhra got more than twice its share.
Since 1956 to date, the additional irrigation potential created in Telangana is only 5 percent since none of the planned irrigation projects have been completed although they were planned 30-40 years ago. The 12 projects sanctioned for Telangana at an estimated cost Rs. 5,449.53 crore to provide for 10.08 lakh hectares have been progressing at snail's pace for decades.
The Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) was started 1n 1963 and is yet to be completed. Even the first phase of the project was not completed after 33 years. The rehabilitation of the displaced people under this project is still pending. The Bheema project, which is older than Andhra Pradesh has remained on paper. Jurala, Icchampally too have languished. While experts and decision makers debate interminably and have still not decided on Srisailam Left Bank Canal (which is to irrigate about 3 lakhs hectares in Telangana), to supply water either through lift or tunnel. The Srisailam Right Bank Canal feeding the coastal districts progresses steadily. Even the 33 medium projects proposed in Telangana which could utilize 80 to 100 tmc of water at a cost Rs 500 crore have been kept pending. Compare this delay with alacrity attending on the Telugu Ganga project: it got funds allocated consistently year after year, within 12 years of its grounding, the project is supplying water to Chennai.
Even budgetary allocation are not fully spent on projects benefiting Telangana. For the Bheema lift irrigation scheme, the budgetary allocation was nine crore rupees in 1996-97, which was pruned to Rs 10 lakhs. Subsequently, only six lakh rupees were spent. On the SRSP, only six crore rupees were spent during 1996-97 against an allocation of Rs 25 crores. In 33 years only Rs 978 crores had been spent on SRSP. And yet Rs 1075 crores were spent on Telugu Ganga in 12 years.
Callous indifference and neglect of maintenance of tanks in Telangana has reduced the area under tank irrigation by half, an unprecedented occurrence. In 1956-57, 4,47 lakh hectares were under tank irrigation which has come down to 2.26 lakh hectares. This increasingly made Telangana farmers resort to exploiting groundwater which is suicidal for a semi-arid region. This dependence on pumpsets saw a great tragedy befall Telangana farmers early this year: as power supply was erratic, irregular and of low quality (low voltage), they incurred huge losses as other region suffered as much due to power scarcity as Telangana.
Power Situation
As irrigation projects for Telangana got bogged down in delays, cost-overruns, controversies, power generation projects too suffered. The Srisailam Left bank canal is one such project. Only 1543 mw of power is generated in this region whereas the generating capacity of the other two regions is 7477 mw. All power situations with the exception Ramagundam and Kothagudem are located outside Telangana, although Telangana accounts for a major share of power consumption and more than three-fourths of catchment area of Krishna and Godavari rivers is in Telangana. That the needs of Telangana are at the bottom of priorities of the government is evident from the fact as many as two lakh applications for new power connection is pending with the government. Yet, there is no plan to increase the power generating capacity in Telangana even as two lakh people wait in vain for a power connection.
Changing Crop Pattern
A dangerous and little-noticed development that threatens Telangana is the changing cropping pattern in the region with food crops giving away to cash crops. The change has been taking place over two decades now with food crops suitable for semi-arid regions giving way to water-intensive cash crops. Staple cereals such as jawar, maize and bajra preferred by local people, serving as food for them and fodder for their cattle have declined significantly in area. The area under jawar has come down from 13,63,169 hectares to 7,97,864 hectares during 1981-84 to 1990-93. Bajra declined from 1,94,981 hectares to 64,398 hectares and maize fell to 2,55,863 hectares from 3,17,098 hectares. Coarse cereals have been the major staple food for millions of people in the area and a shift from these crops needs to be understood in the context of the needs of the people most of whom continue to languish in poverty. Groundnut, castor, sunflower, cotton, chillies and sugarcane have witnessed considerable growth in cropped area. While sunflower registered 500 percent growth, it is more than 100 percent in case of cotton. Except for castor and groundnut, all other crops have entered the region quite recently.
While it may seem strange that the impoverished farmers of Telangana are opting for water-intensive cash crops in the place of rain-fed food crops, the fact is that this change has been brought about the migrant farmers and not the native ones. Settled in tracts irrigated by Nagarjunasagar and Sriransagar canals, these farmers who came to Telangana in 50s and 60s have adopted sugarcane, sunflower, chillies, cotton and groundnut since returns on them are higher than on traditional crops. Liberalization and opening of the market has come as god-sent opportunity to these farmers to make more money at he cost of the people of Telangana.
In Medak, where cotton has been introduced by the Coastal Andhra farmers on a wide scale, the people realized the dangers from it: it introduced new pests to the region and new diseases since the crop requires heavy doses of strong pesticides, and more important, the change in their dietary habits, from jawar and maize to rice had come with high undesirable price: insufficient nutrition to them and shortage of fodder for their cattle. Helped by NGO, the people have gone back to their traditional crops, which have provided them since time immemorial, food and fodder.
Another development as a result of this change is the rise of a merchant class in towns dealing in these inputs, a majority of whom are immigrants from coastal area. The cash-rich migrants beat the local entrepreneurs and farmers out of the market.
Employment in Government
The entire government and its various departments are dominated by people of Coastal Andhra. This pattern has been a blatant violation of agreement to share government jobs between Andhra and Telangana in the ratio of 2:1. Out of 14 lakh jobs in the government today(1997 figures), Telangana's share has been barely two lakhs and these too are in lower levels. Similarly, of the 531 judicial officers, only 92 belong to the region. Of the 22 judges in the state high court, there are only two representing Telangana. Moreover, no one from Telangana could become the advocate-general since the state was formed in 1956. On the educational front, of the 96,031 primary teachers, only 15,921 belong to Telangana. All the top and middle level jobs cornered by Andhra people: there's not a single secretary in the government today belonging to Telangana. Out of 140 heads of department in the government barring a handful, all are from Coastal Andhra. Public and private undertakings, autonomous bodies, corporations and universities have been made the monopoly of Andhras.
Rules have been twisted, manipulated or simply ignored to ensure government jobs went to those from coastal a Andhras and to keep out Telangana people. The present trend is to keep out the Telangana people even from the posts of peons, bus conductors and drivers. The new recruits are all brought over from coastal districts. This strategy has been adopted since 1956 despite agreements entered into, working out the procedure and share. For instance, in 1966, all of the 70,000 vacancies, of which 90 percent went to the people of Andhra.
The latest example is that of recruitment of more than 200 munisif magistrates, the highest post under direct recruitment. In course of time, they will become district and high court judges. Evidently, with an eye on capturing these crucial posts, the procedure has been changed, more centers of examinations opened in coastal Andhra towns, and it was ensured that an overwhelming majority of examiners chosen belong to Coastal Andhra: 50 of 55 judges-examiners were Andhras. The written examination was held on February 23, 1997. The results were predictable: 68 candidates (80 percent of them from Andhra region) passed from Hyderabad; Warangal ( the only center in Telangana) was only 15. Visakapatnam accounted for 85, Vijaywada 75 and Tirupati 47 successful candidates. Only 30 candidates out of 290 called for interview are from Telangana.
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Industrial Development
Industrialization of Telangana has been restricted to the Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy district due to their physical proximity to the seat of the government. Industries in other parts of Telangana did not take off other than those set up prior to 1956. Several industries in Telangana have been allowed to become sick with government refusing to help out to restore them. Today, more and more PSUs such as Allwyn Auto and Republic Forge, located in Telangana are being closed down by the government for various reason. Those threatened include Antargoan and Sirpur Sirsilk Mills. Others in the line for closure are Nizams Sugar factory, FCI at Godavarikhani and Miryalguda Sugar Mill.
According to data, a major chunk of the existing medium and major industrial units in Telangana are owned by people from coastal Andhra. Of the 10,0000 odd units located in Telangana, only 1250 units are owned by the native Telanganites. Coastal Andhra industrialists own 6000 units and the rest are owned by outsiders from different parts of the country. With regard to employment in these industrial units, only 23 percent belong to Telangana, the rest hail from the Coastal Andhra region.
Budget Allocation
In terms of budget allocations, the pattern is the same: denial, deprivation and diversion. Based on area and population, Telangana should get 39-44 percent of the state's budget allocations. But at no point did its allocation exceed 30 percent. Yet Telangana contributes 42 percent of revenue to the state exchequer. Besides, according to some reports, as much as Rs 5000 crores allocated to Telangana under various heads by successive state governments have been diverted to the coastal Andhra region in the past two decades. This is hardly unbelievable since diversion of all kinds of wealth and resources including Telangana's share of water, has become a regular practice. The plunder and exploitation of Telangana to benefit the coastal Andhra region and its people has been planned, constant and systematic.
The utter indifference of the officials toward Telangana can be seen from a recent occurrence. The Nizamsagar dam on Manjira river, built in 1931 was designed to irrigate 1.1 lakh hectares but enormous siltation over the years has reduced its ayacut by half. A satellite mapping has shown that all its major distributaries (83 in number) and minor distributaries (243) have been silted up as the canal bunds eroded. Nine gates of the dam meant for letting silt escape from the reservoir has been jammed for the past 20 years, reducing the capacity of the reservoir. Nothing has been done to rectify them. In 1992-93, the World bank lent Rs 30 crores for Nizamsagr through its Natural Water Program for remodeling the project. The government utilized only six crores rupees and the rest of the amount lapsed. The state government failed to get the loan revived. A high-powered committee went into question of finding funds for the project and submitted its recommendations in 1994. They have remained on the paper.
Similar is the situation of all major and minor irrigation sources all over Telangana. Breached bunds siltation, infestation by water hyacinth have slowly killed them in places, reduced their ayacut, forcing farmers to drill borewells and open wells as in Toopran mandal of Medak district. This has affected the water table in the region. Medak has as many as 1.2 lakh borewells, all dug in the last few years.
Diversion of resources from an area to another to benefit the latter is feature of colonizer. And this has been going for several decades. Water from Krishana and Godavari, coal from Singareni, limestone for cement factories owned by Andhra entrepreneurs, revenue from Telangana are all diverted to Coastal Andhra region, or Andhra businessmen and entrepreneurs of Andhra settlers in Telangana. The result has been the impoverishment of the people of Telangana, slow and tardy development of the region, oppression of the people by unemployment, discrimination and lack of opportunities.
Statehood is the only Answer to Telangana's Suffering
For hundreds of years, people from various parts of India made Telangana their home. There have never been any instance of intolerance of Telangana people towards them. To the credit of the immigrants, they too adopted the local culture, and contributed some their own to Telangana culture. However, the Andhras were a different category. They came, made their home and life in Telangana, and in a few years, assumed a superior, arrogant posture, looking down upon the Telangana people. Gradually, people who had come looking for opportunities, displaced the local people from every field. This brings to mind the pattern followed by European immigrants to the Americas and the English in India, in fact colonizers everywhere: they come as guests, stay as friends, turn occupiers, and overtime, shunt out the local people to reservations refusing them a place of respect in their dispensation, treating as a lower class citizens.
Case for Smaller States
Whether it is a case of state of Jharkhand or Telangana, the demand for a separate state is opposed mainly by those who have benefited from the exploitation of the disaffected people, just as colonizers everywhere. Several arguments have been put forth against the need, viability and purpose of Telangana. Most important, will Telangana become reality? And if it does, will it eradicate the problems of backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment?
Need for Telangana
For all the above reasons discussed above, Telangana has to separate. Another important reason is that the merger of the two regions in 1956 did not result in the merger of their hearts, nor have the last 40 years led to emotional integration. Quite to the contrary, in fact, because the economic inequality has grown, the developmental divide has become a chasm and the cultural differences have moved the two people further away. This is because over the last four decades, the relationship of two unequal partners deteriorated into one of oppressor - oppressed, exploiter - exploited. colonizer - colonized. The division has so greatly deepened that there's no going back.. history, attitudes, prejudices cannot be undone easily.
The common language, Telugu, has been devisive rather than unifying factor because that has been the major, most visible and universally experienced by Telangana people. They have been discriminated against, humiliated and ridiculed for the language they speak. If English language is the one dividing factor between English and American people, it is even more so between the people of Telangana and Coastal Andhra: they have been divided by a common language. This one factor rejects the premise of the state reorganization committee that language binds.
Can a backward region develop economically independently? Or does its future lie in a larger state? Experience of larger states like UP, MP and Bihar has shown that size impedes rather than promotes development - the backward remain backward; the administration is unwieldy, and the growth concentrated in pockets. The answer lies in smaller states where decentralization of administration is possible; developmental activities can be more focused in smaller areas; and people can be involved in the process of development, which is a major factor in giving a push to development. An example of how smaller, backward region can come into its own after separating from the more developed region can be seen in Harayana after breaking away from Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
Today in India, almost every large state is facing the demand from its backward, neglected, culturally different people to be recognized as different and given independent status and separate identity. Apart from Telangana, 11 regions are seeking statehood, and these are: Vidarbha (Maharastra), Saurastra(Gujarat), Chattisgarh(Madya Pradesh), Malwa, Bundelkhand( both comprising parts of MP and UP), Pancahl Pradesh (Western UP), Poorvanchal (Eastern UP), Uttarkhand (UP), Bodoland (Assam) Gorkhaland( West Bengal) and Jharkhand ( Bihar).
The size of the state cannot be a factor for its viability, as it is being argued by some. If that factor were top be applied, then Telangana should be considered first since there are at least five existing states that are smaller than Telangana. Telangana with 11.48 lakh square kilometers area, 107 Assembly and 14 Parliament constituencies with three crore population is larger than the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Hoimachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Another 49 assembly constituencies and nine parliament constituencies will be added to the present 107 assembly and 14 loka Sabha seats once the constituencies reorganized.
There is nothing sacrosanct about the 1956 merger that it has to be retained at the cost of the people of Telangana. The demand for separate state is neither undemocratic nor unconstitutional. In fact, by refusing to heed the genuine aspirations of the people, the rulers are being undemocratic. They are trying to supress the movement only to protect their own interests and hegemony over Telangana. The ceded districts of Madras Presidency - the Costal Andhra districts - put forth several reasons justfying their demand for separate state in the 1950s.They are extremely similar to those put forward by the people of Tlanga today: political and cultural domination by the Tamils; economic exploitation, discrimination in employment and education, uneven development of the land of the Telugus and jeopardy to the individuality and self-respect of the Telugu people.
The late K .Kaleshwara Rao, the first Speaker of the AP Legislative Assembly in his autobiography expanded on the perception of Andhras under Tamilians, that the latter had greater influence in the legislature, executive and judiciary and the Andhra district were neglected in industries, power, employment, education and economic development. "There are nine bridges across Cauvery but not even one on Krishna and Godavari…the pace of development of towns in Andhra area is no comparison to that of Tamil districts," he said. Supporting the movement for a separate Andhra state, an editorial in Andhra Patrika said, "If a separate state is formed, the very reason for Telugus' backwardness will disappear." If a separate state was an answer to Andhras' development in 1953, why can't a similar solution be adopted for Telangana in 1997?
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Agenda for a Separate Telangana State
It is extremely important that if our efforts for a separate state are to succeed we have a clear vision of the future of its people. An agenda needs to be developed through a pooling of ideas, tasks prioritized, and plans outlined to tackle the major problems facing the people.
Blueprints would have to be drawn up for a social and economic development of the people. An action plan is necessary for the immediate tasks on hand, such as land reforms. This could be worked out to be completed within a time-frame to avoid the pitfalls of earlier well-meaning intentions that were hijacked by vested interests in free India.
Universal educational should be the first priority; special efforts should be made make access to education available to the Dalits, women and minorities. This task too should be achieved within a specific time-frame.
Other priorities should be safe drinking water in all villages, electricity and health for all. The rich mineral resources of Telangana, the fertile soil, massive irrigation potential and the hard-working nature of its people will help them to realize their dreams.
A word about the support PWG has extended to Telangana state.: it is welcome, as is all support, from within Telangana and outside. Given the political dominance and brute majority enjoyed by ruling Telugu Desam Party in the Assembly, given the control of the mass media by Coastal Andhra people, and given the threat a separate Telangana poses to the entrenched economic interests that have grown at the cost of Telangana people, any and all support is necessary to carry the struggle forward.
The statement of PWG that it will only support and not lead the agitation should lay to rest apprehensions of break out of violence, or that the struggle for Telangana would be hijacked by PWG. Solidarity and unity of all people, of all ideologies, of all persuasions is the need of the hour.
Another fear, perfectly justified, is that the support of PWG might be used by the state to suppress the Telangana movement. The government has found it convenient to blame PWG for the continuing backwardness of the region, for the agitation of the farmers against low voltage, and for many struggles taking place all over Telangana for justice. There is every danger of the government using the excuse of PWG support to Telangana to crackdown on the movement to suppress it. That is why the movement has to be democratic, peaceful and non-violent.
a case for a separate state of telangana
A CASE FOR A SEPARATE STATE OF TELANGANA - FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
B. Venkateshwar Rao, 3rd Dec 2004
It flashed in my mind this morning!!
The Perspective is very simple. This will be clear to the people who serve or served on the Boards of Companies or Corporations. Let me explain. In a company there are shareholders. Any group that owns or controls more than 50% shares is a majority shareholder. The rest are the minority shareholders. The majority group selects the Board, Chairman, President etc. They make the policies and objectives and they select the projects. They manage the available resources including finances as they see fit.
Any government including the AP government is similar to a typical company. The Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the State Assembly constitute Power. The Telangana region has 107 seats and the Andhra region has 187 seats. In any democracy the majority will rule. With the majority, the Andhra MLAs will definitely control every thing!! Any rule by the minority is an aberration and cannot last long.
Also, any party that came to power had more MLAs from the Andhra region than from the Telangana. It is very unlikely that most of the MLAs of the winning party will ever come from the Telangana region. Telangana loses again and again! Under the present setup, this is very natural and there is no escape.
The fact that Telangana is a minority is the ROOT CAUSE for lack of the desired and expected development in Telangana. We cannot develop Telangana unless we fix this root cause.
In 1956, when Andhra and Telangana were merged, It was very much similar to the big fish – Andhra, swallowing the small fish – Telangana! Telangana lost its freedom yet another time. The designs of the majority Andhra rulers to grab the resources of Telangana area have been obvious and are continuing unabated. The recent venture to lift Godavari water into Krishna for the benefit of the coastal Andhra, while the Telangana people are dying is atrocious. The intense lobbying from the Andhra MLAs and their supporters did not allow Telangana to get its fair share.
In a company, the minority shareholders remain as minority shareholders by choice. This happens when they don’t have the competence to form and run their own company! Well, this is where we have to ask ourselves -- whether we have the needed competence or not to run our own government. In my mind, the answer is an emphatic yes.
In recent conversations with various leaders and thinkers of the Telangana area, political and non-political, it became clear that their desires and capabilities were always brushed aside by the majority government.
So, the time has come now for all the leaders and thinkers of Telangana, both political and non-political, and for all the good people, to ARISE and be AWAKE to protect the interests of Telangana. Do not rest until the goal of a separate Telangana is reached. Only then, the better times are possible for Telangana people. Don’t let any one distort your minds by saying that it will be difficult to sustain Telangana when it is formed. Be fearless. Let FREEDOM reign all over Telangana. God bless Telangana and its people.
B V Rao
Karimnagar
3 December 2004
878-222-1553
B. Venkateshwar Rao, 3rd Dec 2004
It flashed in my mind this morning!!
The Perspective is very simple. This will be clear to the people who serve or served on the Boards of Companies or Corporations. Let me explain. In a company there are shareholders. Any group that owns or controls more than 50% shares is a majority shareholder. The rest are the minority shareholders. The majority group selects the Board, Chairman, President etc. They make the policies and objectives and they select the projects. They manage the available resources including finances as they see fit.
Any government including the AP government is similar to a typical company. The Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the State Assembly constitute Power. The Telangana region has 107 seats and the Andhra region has 187 seats. In any democracy the majority will rule. With the majority, the Andhra MLAs will definitely control every thing!! Any rule by the minority is an aberration and cannot last long.
Also, any party that came to power had more MLAs from the Andhra region than from the Telangana. It is very unlikely that most of the MLAs of the winning party will ever come from the Telangana region. Telangana loses again and again! Under the present setup, this is very natural and there is no escape.
The fact that Telangana is a minority is the ROOT CAUSE for lack of the desired and expected development in Telangana. We cannot develop Telangana unless we fix this root cause.
In 1956, when Andhra and Telangana were merged, It was very much similar to the big fish – Andhra, swallowing the small fish – Telangana! Telangana lost its freedom yet another time. The designs of the majority Andhra rulers to grab the resources of Telangana area have been obvious and are continuing unabated. The recent venture to lift Godavari water into Krishna for the benefit of the coastal Andhra, while the Telangana people are dying is atrocious. The intense lobbying from the Andhra MLAs and their supporters did not allow Telangana to get its fair share.
In a company, the minority shareholders remain as minority shareholders by choice. This happens when they don’t have the competence to form and run their own company! Well, this is where we have to ask ourselves -- whether we have the needed competence or not to run our own government. In my mind, the answer is an emphatic yes.
In recent conversations with various leaders and thinkers of the Telangana area, political and non-political, it became clear that their desires and capabilities were always brushed aside by the majority government.
So, the time has come now for all the leaders and thinkers of Telangana, both political and non-political, and for all the good people, to ARISE and be AWAKE to protect the interests of Telangana. Do not rest until the goal of a separate Telangana is reached. Only then, the better times are possible for Telangana people. Don’t let any one distort your minds by saying that it will be difficult to sustain Telangana when it is formed. Be fearless. Let FREEDOM reign all over Telangana. God bless Telangana and its people.
B V Rao
Karimnagar
3 December 2004
878-222-1553
Telangana: Irrigational Disparities in Andhra Pradesh
S.Prabhakar (Former Special Secretary, Irrigation Dept., Govt. of A.P.)
Geographically, Telangana is a part of Deccan plateau bounded by Godavari Pranahita rivers in the north and Krishna river in the South. In addition to these two major rivers there are several minor river basins which traverse the length and breadth of Telangana.
Agriculture is the main occupation of over 75 per cent of the population, therefore, any development model for Telangana should focus on agricultural development. The success of agriculture mainly depends on providing irrigation facilities. The importance of irrigation is known historically and all the benevolent kingdoms of past have tried their best to create as many irrigation facilities as possible for the benefit of the people. The Kakatiya kings have done pioneering work in 13th century by constructing small and medium sized water storage reservoirs in the topographically undulating area of Deccan plateau. These water storages provided irrigation facilities to thousands of acres of cultivable lands. There were hundreds of such storages notable among them being Ramappa, Lakhnavaram, Pakhal and Ghanpur Lakes, which even today are functioning and stand as our proud heritage.
Historically, Telangana region was part of Hyderabad dominion, ruled by the Nizams of Asafjahi dynasty. The Hyderabad State comprised Telangana, Marathwada and part of Karnataka. The State which had three distinct languages was ruled by the Nizams up to September 1948.
The Nizam Government also encouraged the construction of minor irrigation storages to provide water to and lands. At the beginning of this century, the available statistics indicate that there were 21,000 small tanks providing irrigation facilities to 8,80,000 acres.
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Development of Water Resources in Hyderabad State
The rulers of Hyderabad State realised the importance of water resources development from the second decade of this century. Ali Nawaz Jung, an engineer of Nizam prepared a comprehensive water resources development plan for the exploitation of vast water potential available in the major river basins of Godavari and Krishna. In 1920's, the tributaries of major rivers were tackled by constructing several medium sized irrigation projects, the notable among them being Pocharam, Dindi, Palair, Wyra, Manair and anicuts at Ghanpur on Manjira and Khanapur on Godavari.
As a first step towards the development of major irrigation systems, a major irrigation project was planned on river Manjira by proposing the construction of 140 feet high dam and a storage reservoir with huge canal system to, provide irrigation facilities to 2,75,000 acres. The masonry dam was one of highest in India at that point of time and it was designed and constructed by the Hyderabad engineers. The construction of dam was started in 1924 and completed in 193 1. The project was inaugurated by the Nizam of Hyderabad and named as Nizamsagar Project. The canal system and other infrastructure such as roads and communication were completed in subsequent years. The project provided irrigation facilities for two crops in an year and also provided irrigation facilities to 20,000 acres of sugar cane crop. As a result a sugar factory at Bodhan was established with crushing capacity of 2500 tones, one of the largest sugar factories of Asia at that time. The Nizamsagar project was constructed to utilise 58 tmc of Manjira waters. The Nizamabad district became the most prosperous district of Hyderabad State on account of Nizamsagar Project.
Godavari river being the largest river flowing through the state, a major multipurpose project was proposed for irrigation and hydroelectric power development. The project proposals envisaged the construction of high dam across Godavari near Pochampad and Godavari north canal on the left and Godavari South canal on the right to benefit 20 lakhs of acres for irrigation in Adilabad district from the north canal and Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda districts from the south canal. The project provided for utilisation of 330 tmc of Godavari waters. In addition as a part of the project the reservoir on Kadam forming the part of North canal and Lower Manair dam reservoir forming the part of South canal were also included in the project. The stage I of the project comprising infrastructure such as approach roads, buildings at the main project site and Godavari North canal and a dam on Kadam river were sanctioned. The works were grounded and were in progress.
A project across river Manjira, upstream of Nizamsagar at a place near Devanur was also proposed to provide irrigation benefits in Manjira valley in Medak district by utilising 38 tmc of water. The two hydroelectric power stations one at the dam site and one on the power canal, which provided additional supplies to Nizamsagar, were also included in the project. The work on the approach roads and camp buildings was started and land acquisition proceedings for the dam and reservoir were initiated.
Krishna river being the second largest river of the state, the development of water resources by construction of projects was commenced from 1948. First the construction of dam on Tungabhadra near Hospet was started in 1948 as joint venture between Hyderabad and Mysore Governments. The left canal envisaged irrigation in Raichur and Mahaboobnagar districts of Hyderabad State. The dam and most of the canal system was completed by 1956, except the last leg of canal benefiting Mahaboobnagar district, which envisaged water utilisation of 19.20 tmc. Due to states reorganisation the entire project went to Karnataka and extension of canal into Mahaboobnagar district was stopped.
The construction of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme was taken up on river Tungabhadra and the head works and canals were mostly completed by 1956, but due to States reorganisation, the head works and part of the canal went to Karnataka and most of the canal came to Telangana to benefit 84,000 acres in Mahaboobnagar district, by utilising 15.90 tmc of water.
The investigation was completed and project reports were prepared for upper Krishna and Bheema Projects which envisaged the utilisation of 54.40 tmc and 100.60 tmc, respectively, for the benefit of Mahaboobnagar district. These projects were committed and approved but not grounded.
The Hyderabad State engineers started the investigation of a major project on the river Krishna and detailed project reports were prepared at two sites namely Yeleshwaram and Nandikonda after studying various alternatives. The project as finalised provided for utilisation of 132 tmc of Krishna waters for the benefit of 10 lakh acres in Nalgonda and Khammam districts. The Hyderabad Government approved the project with only left canal and the entire planning, investigation and designs were completed for the Nandikonda site since the Madras Government was not interested at this site as they had already proposed the Krishna-Pennar project from an upper location to take water to Madras State. In fact this was one of the main reasons for the Andhras to start a big agitation which finally resulted in formation of Andhra State. It is only when separate Andhra State was formed in October, 1953, that on their request, the Nandikonda (named as Nagarjuna Sagar) project was made a joint project between Hyderabad State and Andhra State and an agreement was signed in 1954 for equal sharing of 132 tmc for left canal and 132 tmc for right canal. The Nagarjuna Sagar project was inaugurated in 1955 by the Prime Minister of India Shri Jawaharlal Nehru and the execution was taken up. A joint Control Board was set up to implement the project proposals as agreed by both the states.
It is very clear from these events that the Hyderabad Government had planned in a big way for the optimum utilisation of huge water potential of Godavari and Krishna rivers for the benefit of people of Telangana and to provide extensive irrigation facilities to the farmers of Telangana area.
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Water Potential of Telangana
The broad position as on l- I l- 1956, in respect of the water resources utilised and committed for utilisation for irrigation in Telangana area is given below.
Godavari Valley
A: Water utilisation under completed projects
I.. Major Projects
1. Nizamsagar Project 58.00 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects 21.70 tme
3. Minor Irrigation Schemes 21.00 tmc
Total 100.70 tmc
B: Projects committed and under construction
I. Major Projects
1. Godavari Valley-multipurpose project 330.00 tmc
2. Kadam Project 15.00 tmc
3. Lower Manair Dam Project 12.00 tmc
4. Devanur Project 38.00 tmc
Total 395.00 tmc
C: Projects Investigated
1. Icchampally Project 350.00 tmc
Godavari Valley Total 845.70 tmc
Krishna Valley
A: Water utilisation under completed Projects
I. Major Irrigation
1. Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme 15.90 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects. 36.10 tmc
3. Minor Irrigation Scheme 90.80 tmc
Total 142.80 tmc
B. Projects in Progress
1. Nagarjuna Sagar left canal 132.00 tmc
2. Tungabhadra Project left canal extension 19.00 tmc
Total 151.20 tmc
C. Projects Investigated
1. Upper Krishna Project 54.40 tmc
2; Bheema Project 100.00 tmc
Total 155.00 tmc
Krishna Valley Total 449.00 tme
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State Reorganization
With the States reorganisation in November 1956 when Telangana was made part of the enlarged state of Andhra Pradesh, the real problem of the development of water resources started and all the major irrigation projects planned and programmed for implementation in Telangana area suffered serious set-backs. The Godavari and Krishna river basins got trifurcated, the sharing of water by respective regions became inter-state problem. The States Reorganisation Act clearly provided that all the projects which are grounded and committed for implementation before the states reorganisation should not be stopped and the rights of the people benefiting from such projects were protected under the Constitution. But unfortunately the Government of Andhra Pradesh did not take any action and on the contrary created obstacles in the implementation of the projects benefiting Telangana area. This also suited their interests, since the amounts earmarked for Telangana projects could easily be diverted to the projects benefiting the Andhra area. The Telangana leaders and ministers never took any interest in projecting the claims of Telangana projects and to safeguard the rights accrued on account of States Reorganisation Act.
The result was the immediate stoppage of Godavari Valley multipurpose, project, abandoning of Devanur project and no negotiating with Karnataka for the extension of Thungabhadra left canal, already sanctioned and under execution.
Irrigation development in Telangana was practically at standstill for seven years from 1956 to 1963. During this period no irrigation project in Godavari valley was taken up on the pretext of inter-state water dispute. After several representations by the people and some of the leaders of Telangana, quoting extensively from the S.R. Act, the then Irrigation Minister, Government of India issued an order permitting utilisation of just 67 tmc of water at Pochampad by construction of low dam in 1963, for irrigation of 5,70,000 acres in Karimnagar district. The foundation stone was laid in July 1963, but the budget allocation was almost negligible. For a project the cost of which was estimated at Rs 40 crores, the annual allotment was Rs.50 takhs. This went on for 6 years till 1969, and only when the agitation for separate Telangana State took a serious turn, the A.P. Government enhanced the allotment to the project.
This is just a sample illustration of happenings in one project and there are similar stories in respect of all the projects of Telangana.
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Godavari River Basin
The Godavari river has its catchment area in five states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. A dispute arose among various states on sharing of Godavari river waters. The Government of India, under its Constitutional powers, appointed a tribunal under the chairmanship of Justice Bachawat. The Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal in its final award only ratified and pronounced that various agreements reached between different states as final and binding for the states. A.P. authorities blindly signed the agreement without even looking into its contents. Andhra Pradesh in fact agreed to give whatever the Maharashtra or Karnataka wanted and did not even put up a token claim to safeguard the existing utilisation of Telangana projects in. Godavari Valley and future requirements of Telangana Projects.
The G.W.D.T. permitted Andhra Pradesh to utilise to the extent of 1480 tmc of water, based on 75 per cent dependability.
The broad distribution of water is given below
I: Existing projects and projects under construction 680 tmc
II. Future Projects to be taken up 800 tmc
Total 1480 tmc
I. Existing Projects
Telangana
1. Nizamsaar Project 58.00 tmc
2. Kadam Project 11.60 tmc
3. Sriram Sagar Project (Stage 1) 140.27 tmc
4. Singur/Manjira Water supply scheme 15.99 tmc
5. Medium Irrigation Projects 48.44 tmc
6. Minor Irrigation Schemes 85.70 tmc
Total 360.00 tmc
Andhra
1. Dowleshwaram Project 263.60 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects 14.60 tmc
3. Minor Irrigation Schemes 41.80 tmc
Total 320.00 tmc
Total for existing schemes 680.00 tmc
The dependable water available for future projects is 800 tmc. The water allocation should normally be made considering the catchment which contributes to the river system and cultivable area available for irrigation in the basin. The catchment area of Telangana is 61,780 sq miles (79 per cent ) and the catchment of Andhra is 16,420 sq.kms (21 per cent ). The cultivable land of Telangana in Godavari basin is 25.2 lakhs hectares and in Andhra 10.7 lakh hectares, which form 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. If both or either of the above criteria is applied the water allocation to Telangana and Andhra to be in the ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent of 1,480 tmc which works out to 1,036 tmc and 44.4 tmc. The Andhra has already used 320 tmc, and the balance it can claim is only 124 tmc. But the Andhra Pradesh government without considering any basis has earmarked 405 tmc to Andhra future projects, the Polavaram alone getting a share of 4-5 tmc. In all fairness, from out of the unutilised waters of 800 tmc, the Telangana future projects should be allotted at least 560 tmc and 240 tmc can be given to Andhra future projects.
Shortfall in Utilisation
The review of utilisation with regard to the completed and under construction projects of Telangana show considerable shortfall as indicated below :
S.No. Project Allotted quantity Present utilisation Shortfall
I . Nizamsagar Project 58.00 tmc 33.00 tmc 25.00 tmc
II . Kadam Project 11.00 tmc 9.50 tmc 2.10 tmc
III . SRSP (Stage1)Project 140.27 tmc 65.10 tmc 75.17 tmc
IV . Medium Projects 48.43 tmc 34.60 tmc 13.83 tmc
TOTAL 258.30 tmc 142.10 tmc 116.10 tmc
The shortfall is mainly due to inadequate allotment of funds and diversion of allotted amounts to other projects. The SRSP (Stage 1) started in July 1963 is still not fully completed even after 33 years.
Even it all on going irrigation projects of Telangana are completed in Godavari Valley, the total irrigated area will be only 7.10 lakh hectares out of the total cultivable area of 25.20 lakh hectares, which is just 28 per cent whereas in Andhra area the existing percentage of irrigated area to cultivable area in Godavari valley districts is 56.50 per cent.
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Krishna River Basin
The Krishna river originating from Mahabaleshwar in Western Ghats traverses 1,280 km through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before it joins Bay of Bengal. It enters Telangana first, covers maximum distance. Telangana contributes 68.50 per cent of its catchment area as against 31.50 per cent from Andhra area. The Hyderabad State envisaged the utilisation of 459 tmc of Krishna waters for the benefit of Telangana area to irrigate vast tracts of lands in drought prone districts of Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam. Out of which the projects for 294 tmc were either completed or were in progress.
The Krishna water dispute tribunal assessed the availability of water in Krishna river as 2060 tmc at 75 per cent dependability and allotted 800 tmc to Andhra Pradesh. The allotment to Telangana was 266.83 tmc, Andhra 500.17 tmc and Srisailam reservoir losses 33.00 tmc. The Telangana requirements were completely overlooked. The allotment to Nagarjuna Sagar is 106.20 tmc against the requirement of 132 tmc; only 17.84 tmc was allotted to Jurala project on Krishna as an alternative to upper Krishna project extension (54.40 tmc) and Bhima Project (100.7 tmc). So the loss to Telangana in water-allocation due to States Reorganisation on account of these two projects alone is (155.10 minus 17.84) 137.26 tmc.
The main reason for such reduced allocation to Telangana projects is due to lack of proper presentation by the A.P. Government to the Tribunal for safeguarding the interests of Telangana area. On the contrary Nagarjuna Sagar Project benefiting the Andhra area got an allotment of 174.80 tmc, and the Srisailam reservoir which was included as a new project, basically a balancing reservoir, got 33 tmc as evaporation losses. The shocking part of it is that even the allotted 106.20 tmc under Nagarjunasagar left canal for Telangana area was reduced by manipulation of levels and alignment of the left canal during the stage of design and execution. This resulted in actual utilisation coming down to 89 tmc. In effect the Nagarajuna Sagar project first started by the Hyderabad Government for utilisation of 132 tmc to Telangana area came down to 89 tmc; a loss of 43 tmc due to formation of Andhra Pradesh.
Krishna Surplus Waters
The Tribunal allotted 800 tmc to A.P. out of dependable flow of 2060 tmc. However Tribunal allowed the Andhra Pradesh, being a terminal state, to utilise surplus waters over and above the allotted quantity without acquiring any right, on such utilisation until the time of next review in 2000 A.D.
There were a number of meetings on this issue and it was agreed by various parties representing Andhra and Telangana that the surplus waters should be used equally for the projects of both regions. To start with it was agreed to take up the following two projects from each region:
Andhra Area
1. Telugu Ganga project for utilising 29 tmc
Srisailam right bank canal for utilising 10 tmc
Telangana Area
1. Srisailam left bank canal for utilising 30 tmc
Bheema lift irrigation scheme for utilising 20 tmc
But in practice the above two projects of Andhra area were taken up and are in progress from the last 13 years and an amount of over Rs 1200 crores have been spent till now. They are commissioned whereas neither of the two Telangana projects has seen any progress. As an eyewash the Srisailam left bank canal project was put on ground by executing canal part of the work, without even attempting final identification of source of supply. A controversy was created whether to get the water to Srisailam by tunnel or to lift water from Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir. There is no decision on this from the last 13 years, and since 2000 A.D. is just three years away, there is no possibility of this project being taken up and completed. The Bheema lift irrigation scheme is still in cold storage.
Irrigation in Krishna Basin
The catchment area of Krishna from Telangana is 51,628 sq.km (68.50 per cent) and whereas the catchment from Andhra is 23,741 sq.km (31.50 per cent). The water allocation for Telangana is 266.83 tmc (37.50 per cent) and the allocation for Andhra is 500. 17 tmc (62.50 per cent). The cultivable area of Telangana in Krishna basin is 22.40 lakh hectares. The total irrigated area from all the irrigation projects is 5.38 lakh hectares which is about 24 per cent. In Ranga Reddy district it is 9.76 per cent, Mahaboobnagar 14.27 per cent, Nalgonda 21.68 per cent and Khammam 33.07 per cent. But the percentage of area irrigated by Krishna waters in Andhra area is 76.72 per cent in Krishna district and 63.10 per cent in Guntur district.
Telangana: Irrigation Disparity
The Telangana region which has a cultivable area of 47.60 lakh hectares will have an assured irrigation facility of only 8.57 lakh hectares with all the existing projects and on completion of all the ongoing major and medium irrigation projects. The overall percentage of assured irrigation to total cultivable area is 18 per cent, which is the lowest by any standard. This vast irrigational disparity, in spite of having considerable water potential, is mainly due to the deliberate neglect by all the Governments which were in power from I- 11-56, to deprive the benefits of irrigation to Telangana farmers and to keep the economy of the region backward. Today Telangana is one of the most under-developed and economically backward regions in India. This is primarily due to the setback it received in the development of irrigated agriculture. A study conducted in the command areas of various irrigation projects in different parts of the country has shown that the income levels of farmers in post irrigated period have improved by 5 to 7 times generally and in some instances the increase is up to 14 times. One can imagine how much damage has been done to the economy of Telangana as whole in the last 40 years when the region was deprived of a water utilisation of 472 tmc, which could have provided irrigation to about 19 lakh. hectares of cultivable lands.
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Future of Irrigation in Telangana
Naturally every one is upset and wonders whether is it possible to do any thing in future with such a huge backlog and damage inflicted on the water front.
There is always hope, provided the people of Telangana as a whole take up this issue seriously and make a united effort to tackle the problem. The normal method of submitting petitions and memoranda may not solve the issue. Everybody interested should sit together and do some serious thinking and adopt a very bold and innovative approach in selecting the projects and continuously fighting for their sanction, implementation and completion.
The Telangana region, being a part of Deccan plateau is in a disadvantageous position, as regards gravity flow irrigation. Since most of the water which it could have got has been deprived and taken away due to political and regional considerations, the cultivable area of Telangana is in-between the contours of + 300 and + 2000 ft. The water availability as on today in these elevations is very limited. Therefore, any future irrigation development of Telangana should have much greater lift irrigation component. Where the flow irrigation potential is still available it could be fully used.
New Irrigation Projects proposed for Telangana
Name of Project Water Utilization Ayacut (in hectares) Districts benefited
Ia. Flow Irrigatioin Projects(Major)
Sriramsagar (Stage 11) 69.80 2,80,000 Warangal, Khammam ;Nalgonda
Penganga Project 12.00 48,000 Adilabad (Joint venture with Govt.of Maharashtra)
Pedda Vanglada 8.40 33,000 Adilabad
Srisailani left bank canal 30.00 1,20,000 Nalgonda
1b. Flow Irrigation Projects(medium)
Ten medium irrigation Projects 16.50 66.000 Nizamabad Adilabad & Khammam
Total Flow Irrigation Projects 136.70 5,47,000
II. Lift Irrigation Projects
Pranahita lift irrigation scheme 12.00 48,000 Adilabad
Bheema lift irrigation scheme 20.00 80,000 Mahaboobnagar
Jurala lift irrigation@scherne 18.00 72,000 -do-
Icchampally left irrigation project 350.00 14,00,000 Warangal Karimnagar Khammam, Medak Ranga Ready, Mahaboobnagar
Total of lift irrigation schemes 400.00 16,00,000
All the above projects are important and should be taken up without any further delays. However I will make a special mention of one project on which depends the future prosperity of Telangana.
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Icchampally Lift Irrigation Project
The Godavari river has huge water potential only after its confluence with Indravati. The Icchampally site on Godavari is after the above confluence. A major multipurpose project was planned and investigated by the Hyderabad Government before 1955. The reservoir level was originally fixed at + 410 ft. level, which was reduced to + 370 ft. level. The project was proposed as joint venture with Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The sharing of irrigation and power benefits were contemplated to different states. But the reservoir formation results in several serious problems. It will submerge 2,70,00 acres of land which includes 54,900 acres of prime reserved forest in three states. It also submerges 148 villages with a population of 90,000, most of them being tribals. The project report has been prepared and sent to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Government of India. The Governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have not agreed for the Project and have expressed their unwillingness for any submergence in their states. The Government of India has rejected the project altogether as unacceptable due to environmental problem and has advised the state government to drop the reservoir proposal. There is no hope of reservoir project materialising in future. Telangana development is closely linked with the utilisation of available Godavari waters at Icchampally. Therefore, an alternative project is proposed to be called "Icchampally Lift Irrigation Project".
The construction of Barrage (Low Dam) across river Godavari at Icchampally site with water level of the pond at + 300.00 ft. At this level of + 300.00 ft. there will be no submergence of any land, forest or a village, and the water is stored only with in the river margins.
2. The lifting of 350 tmc of water from Icchampally Barrage to various locations in Telangana area by installing suitable pumping stations, to provide irrigation facilities to 14 lakh hectares of and lands in seven districts of Telangana.
3. The laying, of pumping mains from the Barrage site to intermediate storage
reservoir, the first of such reservoir being, Pakhal Lake in Warangal district.
4. Lifting of water from Pakhal Lake to Hanamkonda and laying of pumping mains.
5. Distribution system to provide irrigation facilities to upland areas of Warangal and Khammam districts.
6. The laying of pipeline from Hanamkonda to Lower Manair Dam.
7. Lifting water from lower Manair Dam to provide irrigation to the upland areas of Karimnagar and Medak districts.
8. Pumping and gravity mains from Hanamkonda to Shamirpet lake near Hyderabad.
9. Provide irrigation to Jangoan, Bhongir and Ramannapet areas of Warangal and Nalgonda districts.
10. Laying pumping main from Shamirpet lake to Haldi Project reservoir in Medak.
11. Providing irrigation facilities to Gajwel, Medchal and Sangareddy areas of Medak and Ranga Reddy Districts.
12. Laying pumping and gravity mains to Himayatsagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs near Hyderabad City.
13. Provide drinking water to the city and irrigation to the areas in R.R. district.
14. Laying of gravity and pumping mains from Himayatsagar to Makhtal Mahaboobnagar district.
15. Providing irrigation to and areas of Mahaboobnagar district.
16. The overall project proposal includes the improvements to various existing storages where necessary and forming new storages where essential for balancing purposes.
17. The water distribution system comprises of open canals, piped supply lines, sprinkling irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems, depending on the area, levels and topography.
18. The usage of water will be in most economical way by using all the modern methods of water management and crop water requirements. The project outlined above is feasible and essential for the development of Telangana.
A detailed and comprehensive project preparation is necessary. The government may not have the necessary. manpower and expertise to prepare a project of this type and magnitude.
A consortium of experts comprising of civil engineers, irrigation experts, power engineers, agricultural experts, economists and social workers will have to be formed to study the detailed aspects and prepare a project report.
Conclusion
Different organisations working for the development of Telangana should take up all the issues raised in this paper and work unitedly till the goal is achieved.
S.Prabhakar (Former Special Secretary, Irrigation Dept., Govt. of A.P.)
Geographically, Telangana is a part of Deccan plateau bounded by Godavari Pranahita rivers in the north and Krishna river in the South. In addition to these two major rivers there are several minor river basins which traverse the length and breadth of Telangana.
Agriculture is the main occupation of over 75 per cent of the population, therefore, any development model for Telangana should focus on agricultural development. The success of agriculture mainly depends on providing irrigation facilities. The importance of irrigation is known historically and all the benevolent kingdoms of past have tried their best to create as many irrigation facilities as possible for the benefit of the people. The Kakatiya kings have done pioneering work in 13th century by constructing small and medium sized water storage reservoirs in the topographically undulating area of Deccan plateau. These water storages provided irrigation facilities to thousands of acres of cultivable lands. There were hundreds of such storages notable among them being Ramappa, Lakhnavaram, Pakhal and Ghanpur Lakes, which even today are functioning and stand as our proud heritage.
Historically, Telangana region was part of Hyderabad dominion, ruled by the Nizams of Asafjahi dynasty. The Hyderabad State comprised Telangana, Marathwada and part of Karnataka. The State which had three distinct languages was ruled by the Nizams up to September 1948.
The Nizam Government also encouraged the construction of minor irrigation storages to provide water to and lands. At the beginning of this century, the available statistics indicate that there were 21,000 small tanks providing irrigation facilities to 8,80,000 acres.
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Development of Water Resources in Hyderabad State
The rulers of Hyderabad State realised the importance of water resources development from the second decade of this century. Ali Nawaz Jung, an engineer of Nizam prepared a comprehensive water resources development plan for the exploitation of vast water potential available in the major river basins of Godavari and Krishna. In 1920's, the tributaries of major rivers were tackled by constructing several medium sized irrigation projects, the notable among them being Pocharam, Dindi, Palair, Wyra, Manair and anicuts at Ghanpur on Manjira and Khanapur on Godavari.
As a first step towards the development of major irrigation systems, a major irrigation project was planned on river Manjira by proposing the construction of 140 feet high dam and a storage reservoir with huge canal system to, provide irrigation facilities to 2,75,000 acres. The masonry dam was one of highest in India at that point of time and it was designed and constructed by the Hyderabad engineers. The construction of dam was started in 1924 and completed in 193 1. The project was inaugurated by the Nizam of Hyderabad and named as Nizamsagar Project. The canal system and other infrastructure such as roads and communication were completed in subsequent years. The project provided irrigation facilities for two crops in an year and also provided irrigation facilities to 20,000 acres of sugar cane crop. As a result a sugar factory at Bodhan was established with crushing capacity of 2500 tones, one of the largest sugar factories of Asia at that time. The Nizamsagar project was constructed to utilise 58 tmc of Manjira waters. The Nizamabad district became the most prosperous district of Hyderabad State on account of Nizamsagar Project.
Godavari river being the largest river flowing through the state, a major multipurpose project was proposed for irrigation and hydroelectric power development. The project proposals envisaged the construction of high dam across Godavari near Pochampad and Godavari north canal on the left and Godavari South canal on the right to benefit 20 lakhs of acres for irrigation in Adilabad district from the north canal and Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda districts from the south canal. The project provided for utilisation of 330 tmc of Godavari waters. In addition as a part of the project the reservoir on Kadam forming the part of North canal and Lower Manair dam reservoir forming the part of South canal were also included in the project. The stage I of the project comprising infrastructure such as approach roads, buildings at the main project site and Godavari North canal and a dam on Kadam river were sanctioned. The works were grounded and were in progress.
A project across river Manjira, upstream of Nizamsagar at a place near Devanur was also proposed to provide irrigation benefits in Manjira valley in Medak district by utilising 38 tmc of water. The two hydroelectric power stations one at the dam site and one on the power canal, which provided additional supplies to Nizamsagar, were also included in the project. The work on the approach roads and camp buildings was started and land acquisition proceedings for the dam and reservoir were initiated.
Krishna river being the second largest river of the state, the development of water resources by construction of projects was commenced from 1948. First the construction of dam on Tungabhadra near Hospet was started in 1948 as joint venture between Hyderabad and Mysore Governments. The left canal envisaged irrigation in Raichur and Mahaboobnagar districts of Hyderabad State. The dam and most of the canal system was completed by 1956, except the last leg of canal benefiting Mahaboobnagar district, which envisaged water utilisation of 19.20 tmc. Due to states reorganisation the entire project went to Karnataka and extension of canal into Mahaboobnagar district was stopped.
The construction of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme was taken up on river Tungabhadra and the head works and canals were mostly completed by 1956, but due to States reorganisation, the head works and part of the canal went to Karnataka and most of the canal came to Telangana to benefit 84,000 acres in Mahaboobnagar district, by utilising 15.90 tmc of water.
The investigation was completed and project reports were prepared for upper Krishna and Bheema Projects which envisaged the utilisation of 54.40 tmc and 100.60 tmc, respectively, for the benefit of Mahaboobnagar district. These projects were committed and approved but not grounded.
The Hyderabad State engineers started the investigation of a major project on the river Krishna and detailed project reports were prepared at two sites namely Yeleshwaram and Nandikonda after studying various alternatives. The project as finalised provided for utilisation of 132 tmc of Krishna waters for the benefit of 10 lakh acres in Nalgonda and Khammam districts. The Hyderabad Government approved the project with only left canal and the entire planning, investigation and designs were completed for the Nandikonda site since the Madras Government was not interested at this site as they had already proposed the Krishna-Pennar project from an upper location to take water to Madras State. In fact this was one of the main reasons for the Andhras to start a big agitation which finally resulted in formation of Andhra State. It is only when separate Andhra State was formed in October, 1953, that on their request, the Nandikonda (named as Nagarjuna Sagar) project was made a joint project between Hyderabad State and Andhra State and an agreement was signed in 1954 for equal sharing of 132 tmc for left canal and 132 tmc for right canal. The Nagarjuna Sagar project was inaugurated in 1955 by the Prime Minister of India Shri Jawaharlal Nehru and the execution was taken up. A joint Control Board was set up to implement the project proposals as agreed by both the states.
It is very clear from these events that the Hyderabad Government had planned in a big way for the optimum utilisation of huge water potential of Godavari and Krishna rivers for the benefit of people of Telangana and to provide extensive irrigation facilities to the farmers of Telangana area.
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Water Potential of Telangana
The broad position as on l- I l- 1956, in respect of the water resources utilised and committed for utilisation for irrigation in Telangana area is given below.
Godavari Valley
A: Water utilisation under completed projects
I.. Major Projects
1. Nizamsagar Project 58.00 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects 21.70 tme
3. Minor Irrigation Schemes 21.00 tmc
Total 100.70 tmc
B: Projects committed and under construction
I. Major Projects
1. Godavari Valley-multipurpose project 330.00 tmc
2. Kadam Project 15.00 tmc
3. Lower Manair Dam Project 12.00 tmc
4. Devanur Project 38.00 tmc
Total 395.00 tmc
C: Projects Investigated
1. Icchampally Project 350.00 tmc
Godavari Valley Total 845.70 tmc
Krishna Valley
A: Water utilisation under completed Projects
I. Major Irrigation
1. Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme 15.90 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects. 36.10 tmc
3. Minor Irrigation Scheme 90.80 tmc
Total 142.80 tmc
B. Projects in Progress
1. Nagarjuna Sagar left canal 132.00 tmc
2. Tungabhadra Project left canal extension 19.00 tmc
Total 151.20 tmc
C. Projects Investigated
1. Upper Krishna Project 54.40 tmc
2; Bheema Project 100.00 tmc
Total 155.00 tmc
Krishna Valley Total 449.00 tme
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State Reorganization
With the States reorganisation in November 1956 when Telangana was made part of the enlarged state of Andhra Pradesh, the real problem of the development of water resources started and all the major irrigation projects planned and programmed for implementation in Telangana area suffered serious set-backs. The Godavari and Krishna river basins got trifurcated, the sharing of water by respective regions became inter-state problem. The States Reorganisation Act clearly provided that all the projects which are grounded and committed for implementation before the states reorganisation should not be stopped and the rights of the people benefiting from such projects were protected under the Constitution. But unfortunately the Government of Andhra Pradesh did not take any action and on the contrary created obstacles in the implementation of the projects benefiting Telangana area. This also suited their interests, since the amounts earmarked for Telangana projects could easily be diverted to the projects benefiting the Andhra area. The Telangana leaders and ministers never took any interest in projecting the claims of Telangana projects and to safeguard the rights accrued on account of States Reorganisation Act.
The result was the immediate stoppage of Godavari Valley multipurpose, project, abandoning of Devanur project and no negotiating with Karnataka for the extension of Thungabhadra left canal, already sanctioned and under execution.
Irrigation development in Telangana was practically at standstill for seven years from 1956 to 1963. During this period no irrigation project in Godavari valley was taken up on the pretext of inter-state water dispute. After several representations by the people and some of the leaders of Telangana, quoting extensively from the S.R. Act, the then Irrigation Minister, Government of India issued an order permitting utilisation of just 67 tmc of water at Pochampad by construction of low dam in 1963, for irrigation of 5,70,000 acres in Karimnagar district. The foundation stone was laid in July 1963, but the budget allocation was almost negligible. For a project the cost of which was estimated at Rs 40 crores, the annual allotment was Rs.50 takhs. This went on for 6 years till 1969, and only when the agitation for separate Telangana State took a serious turn, the A.P. Government enhanced the allotment to the project.
This is just a sample illustration of happenings in one project and there are similar stories in respect of all the projects of Telangana.
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Godavari River Basin
The Godavari river has its catchment area in five states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. A dispute arose among various states on sharing of Godavari river waters. The Government of India, under its Constitutional powers, appointed a tribunal under the chairmanship of Justice Bachawat. The Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal in its final award only ratified and pronounced that various agreements reached between different states as final and binding for the states. A.P. authorities blindly signed the agreement without even looking into its contents. Andhra Pradesh in fact agreed to give whatever the Maharashtra or Karnataka wanted and did not even put up a token claim to safeguard the existing utilisation of Telangana projects in. Godavari Valley and future requirements of Telangana Projects.
The G.W.D.T. permitted Andhra Pradesh to utilise to the extent of 1480 tmc of water, based on 75 per cent dependability.
The broad distribution of water is given below
I: Existing projects and projects under construction 680 tmc
II. Future Projects to be taken up 800 tmc
Total 1480 tmc
I. Existing Projects
Telangana
1. Nizamsaar Project 58.00 tmc
2. Kadam Project 11.60 tmc
3. Sriram Sagar Project (Stage 1) 140.27 tmc
4. Singur/Manjira Water supply scheme 15.99 tmc
5. Medium Irrigation Projects 48.44 tmc
6. Minor Irrigation Schemes 85.70 tmc
Total 360.00 tmc
Andhra
1. Dowleshwaram Project 263.60 tmc
2. Medium Irrigation Projects 14.60 tmc
3. Minor Irrigation Schemes 41.80 tmc
Total 320.00 tmc
Total for existing schemes 680.00 tmc
The dependable water available for future projects is 800 tmc. The water allocation should normally be made considering the catchment which contributes to the river system and cultivable area available for irrigation in the basin. The catchment area of Telangana is 61,780 sq miles (79 per cent ) and the catchment of Andhra is 16,420 sq.kms (21 per cent ). The cultivable land of Telangana in Godavari basin is 25.2 lakhs hectares and in Andhra 10.7 lakh hectares, which form 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. If both or either of the above criteria is applied the water allocation to Telangana and Andhra to be in the ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent of 1,480 tmc which works out to 1,036 tmc and 44.4 tmc. The Andhra has already used 320 tmc, and the balance it can claim is only 124 tmc. But the Andhra Pradesh government without considering any basis has earmarked 405 tmc to Andhra future projects, the Polavaram alone getting a share of 4-5 tmc. In all fairness, from out of the unutilised waters of 800 tmc, the Telangana future projects should be allotted at least 560 tmc and 240 tmc can be given to Andhra future projects.
Shortfall in Utilisation
The review of utilisation with regard to the completed and under construction projects of Telangana show considerable shortfall as indicated below :
S.No. Project Allotted quantity Present utilisation Shortfall
I . Nizamsagar Project 58.00 tmc 33.00 tmc 25.00 tmc
II . Kadam Project 11.00 tmc 9.50 tmc 2.10 tmc
III . SRSP (Stage1)Project 140.27 tmc 65.10 tmc 75.17 tmc
IV . Medium Projects 48.43 tmc 34.60 tmc 13.83 tmc
TOTAL 258.30 tmc 142.10 tmc 116.10 tmc
The shortfall is mainly due to inadequate allotment of funds and diversion of allotted amounts to other projects. The SRSP (Stage 1) started in July 1963 is still not fully completed even after 33 years.
Even it all on going irrigation projects of Telangana are completed in Godavari Valley, the total irrigated area will be only 7.10 lakh hectares out of the total cultivable area of 25.20 lakh hectares, which is just 28 per cent whereas in Andhra area the existing percentage of irrigated area to cultivable area in Godavari valley districts is 56.50 per cent.
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Krishna River Basin
The Krishna river originating from Mahabaleshwar in Western Ghats traverses 1,280 km through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before it joins Bay of Bengal. It enters Telangana first, covers maximum distance. Telangana contributes 68.50 per cent of its catchment area as against 31.50 per cent from Andhra area. The Hyderabad State envisaged the utilisation of 459 tmc of Krishna waters for the benefit of Telangana area to irrigate vast tracts of lands in drought prone districts of Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam. Out of which the projects for 294 tmc were either completed or were in progress.
The Krishna water dispute tribunal assessed the availability of water in Krishna river as 2060 tmc at 75 per cent dependability and allotted 800 tmc to Andhra Pradesh. The allotment to Telangana was 266.83 tmc, Andhra 500.17 tmc and Srisailam reservoir losses 33.00 tmc. The Telangana requirements were completely overlooked. The allotment to Nagarjuna Sagar is 106.20 tmc against the requirement of 132 tmc; only 17.84 tmc was allotted to Jurala project on Krishna as an alternative to upper Krishna project extension (54.40 tmc) and Bhima Project (100.7 tmc). So the loss to Telangana in water-allocation due to States Reorganisation on account of these two projects alone is (155.10 minus 17.84) 137.26 tmc.
The main reason for such reduced allocation to Telangana projects is due to lack of proper presentation by the A.P. Government to the Tribunal for safeguarding the interests of Telangana area. On the contrary Nagarjuna Sagar Project benefiting the Andhra area got an allotment of 174.80 tmc, and the Srisailam reservoir which was included as a new project, basically a balancing reservoir, got 33 tmc as evaporation losses. The shocking part of it is that even the allotted 106.20 tmc under Nagarjunasagar left canal for Telangana area was reduced by manipulation of levels and alignment of the left canal during the stage of design and execution. This resulted in actual utilisation coming down to 89 tmc. In effect the Nagarajuna Sagar project first started by the Hyderabad Government for utilisation of 132 tmc to Telangana area came down to 89 tmc; a loss of 43 tmc due to formation of Andhra Pradesh.
Krishna Surplus Waters
The Tribunal allotted 800 tmc to A.P. out of dependable flow of 2060 tmc. However Tribunal allowed the Andhra Pradesh, being a terminal state, to utilise surplus waters over and above the allotted quantity without acquiring any right, on such utilisation until the time of next review in 2000 A.D.
There were a number of meetings on this issue and it was agreed by various parties representing Andhra and Telangana that the surplus waters should be used equally for the projects of both regions. To start with it was agreed to take up the following two projects from each region:
Andhra Area
1. Telugu Ganga project for utilising 29 tmc
Srisailam right bank canal for utilising 10 tmc
Telangana Area
1. Srisailam left bank canal for utilising 30 tmc
Bheema lift irrigation scheme for utilising 20 tmc
But in practice the above two projects of Andhra area were taken up and are in progress from the last 13 years and an amount of over Rs 1200 crores have been spent till now. They are commissioned whereas neither of the two Telangana projects has seen any progress. As an eyewash the Srisailam left bank canal project was put on ground by executing canal part of the work, without even attempting final identification of source of supply. A controversy was created whether to get the water to Srisailam by tunnel or to lift water from Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir. There is no decision on this from the last 13 years, and since 2000 A.D. is just three years away, there is no possibility of this project being taken up and completed. The Bheema lift irrigation scheme is still in cold storage.
Irrigation in Krishna Basin
The catchment area of Krishna from Telangana is 51,628 sq.km (68.50 per cent) and whereas the catchment from Andhra is 23,741 sq.km (31.50 per cent). The water allocation for Telangana is 266.83 tmc (37.50 per cent) and the allocation for Andhra is 500. 17 tmc (62.50 per cent). The cultivable area of Telangana in Krishna basin is 22.40 lakh hectares. The total irrigated area from all the irrigation projects is 5.38 lakh hectares which is about 24 per cent. In Ranga Reddy district it is 9.76 per cent, Mahaboobnagar 14.27 per cent, Nalgonda 21.68 per cent and Khammam 33.07 per cent. But the percentage of area irrigated by Krishna waters in Andhra area is 76.72 per cent in Krishna district and 63.10 per cent in Guntur district.
Telangana: Irrigation Disparity
The Telangana region which has a cultivable area of 47.60 lakh hectares will have an assured irrigation facility of only 8.57 lakh hectares with all the existing projects and on completion of all the ongoing major and medium irrigation projects. The overall percentage of assured irrigation to total cultivable area is 18 per cent, which is the lowest by any standard. This vast irrigational disparity, in spite of having considerable water potential, is mainly due to the deliberate neglect by all the Governments which were in power from I- 11-56, to deprive the benefits of irrigation to Telangana farmers and to keep the economy of the region backward. Today Telangana is one of the most under-developed and economically backward regions in India. This is primarily due to the setback it received in the development of irrigated agriculture. A study conducted in the command areas of various irrigation projects in different parts of the country has shown that the income levels of farmers in post irrigated period have improved by 5 to 7 times generally and in some instances the increase is up to 14 times. One can imagine how much damage has been done to the economy of Telangana as whole in the last 40 years when the region was deprived of a water utilisation of 472 tmc, which could have provided irrigation to about 19 lakh. hectares of cultivable lands.
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Future of Irrigation in Telangana
Naturally every one is upset and wonders whether is it possible to do any thing in future with such a huge backlog and damage inflicted on the water front.
There is always hope, provided the people of Telangana as a whole take up this issue seriously and make a united effort to tackle the problem. The normal method of submitting petitions and memoranda may not solve the issue. Everybody interested should sit together and do some serious thinking and adopt a very bold and innovative approach in selecting the projects and continuously fighting for their sanction, implementation and completion.
The Telangana region, being a part of Deccan plateau is in a disadvantageous position, as regards gravity flow irrigation. Since most of the water which it could have got has been deprived and taken away due to political and regional considerations, the cultivable area of Telangana is in-between the contours of + 300 and + 2000 ft. The water availability as on today in these elevations is very limited. Therefore, any future irrigation development of Telangana should have much greater lift irrigation component. Where the flow irrigation potential is still available it could be fully used.
New Irrigation Projects proposed for Telangana
Name of Project Water Utilization Ayacut (in hectares) Districts benefited
Ia. Flow Irrigatioin Projects(Major)
Sriramsagar (Stage 11) 69.80 2,80,000 Warangal, Khammam ;Nalgonda
Penganga Project 12.00 48,000 Adilabad (Joint venture with Govt.of Maharashtra)
Pedda Vanglada 8.40 33,000 Adilabad
Srisailani left bank canal 30.00 1,20,000 Nalgonda
1b. Flow Irrigation Projects(medium)
Ten medium irrigation Projects 16.50 66.000 Nizamabad Adilabad & Khammam
Total Flow Irrigation Projects 136.70 5,47,000
II. Lift Irrigation Projects
Pranahita lift irrigation scheme 12.00 48,000 Adilabad
Bheema lift irrigation scheme 20.00 80,000 Mahaboobnagar
Jurala lift irrigation@scherne 18.00 72,000 -do-
Icchampally left irrigation project 350.00 14,00,000 Warangal Karimnagar Khammam, Medak Ranga Ready, Mahaboobnagar
Total of lift irrigation schemes 400.00 16,00,000
All the above projects are important and should be taken up without any further delays. However I will make a special mention of one project on which depends the future prosperity of Telangana.
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Icchampally Lift Irrigation Project
The Godavari river has huge water potential only after its confluence with Indravati. The Icchampally site on Godavari is after the above confluence. A major multipurpose project was planned and investigated by the Hyderabad Government before 1955. The reservoir level was originally fixed at + 410 ft. level, which was reduced to + 370 ft. level. The project was proposed as joint venture with Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The sharing of irrigation and power benefits were contemplated to different states. But the reservoir formation results in several serious problems. It will submerge 2,70,00 acres of land which includes 54,900 acres of prime reserved forest in three states. It also submerges 148 villages with a population of 90,000, most of them being tribals. The project report has been prepared and sent to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Government of India. The Governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have not agreed for the Project and have expressed their unwillingness for any submergence in their states. The Government of India has rejected the project altogether as unacceptable due to environmental problem and has advised the state government to drop the reservoir proposal. There is no hope of reservoir project materialising in future. Telangana development is closely linked with the utilisation of available Godavari waters at Icchampally. Therefore, an alternative project is proposed to be called "Icchampally Lift Irrigation Project".
The construction of Barrage (Low Dam) across river Godavari at Icchampally site with water level of the pond at + 300.00 ft. At this level of + 300.00 ft. there will be no submergence of any land, forest or a village, and the water is stored only with in the river margins.
2. The lifting of 350 tmc of water from Icchampally Barrage to various locations in Telangana area by installing suitable pumping stations, to provide irrigation facilities to 14 lakh hectares of and lands in seven districts of Telangana.
3. The laying, of pumping mains from the Barrage site to intermediate storage
reservoir, the first of such reservoir being, Pakhal Lake in Warangal district.
4. Lifting of water from Pakhal Lake to Hanamkonda and laying of pumping mains.
5. Distribution system to provide irrigation facilities to upland areas of Warangal and Khammam districts.
6. The laying of pipeline from Hanamkonda to Lower Manair Dam.
7. Lifting water from lower Manair Dam to provide irrigation to the upland areas of Karimnagar and Medak districts.
8. Pumping and gravity mains from Hanamkonda to Shamirpet lake near Hyderabad.
9. Provide irrigation to Jangoan, Bhongir and Ramannapet areas of Warangal and Nalgonda districts.
10. Laying pumping main from Shamirpet lake to Haldi Project reservoir in Medak.
11. Providing irrigation facilities to Gajwel, Medchal and Sangareddy areas of Medak and Ranga Reddy Districts.
12. Laying pumping and gravity mains to Himayatsagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs near Hyderabad City.
13. Provide drinking water to the city and irrigation to the areas in R.R. district.
14. Laying of gravity and pumping mains from Himayatsagar to Makhtal Mahaboobnagar district.
15. Providing irrigation to and areas of Mahaboobnagar district.
16. The overall project proposal includes the improvements to various existing storages where necessary and forming new storages where essential for balancing purposes.
17. The water distribution system comprises of open canals, piped supply lines, sprinkling irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems, depending on the area, levels and topography.
18. The usage of water will be in most economical way by using all the modern methods of water management and crop water requirements. The project outlined above is feasible and essential for the development of Telangana.
A detailed and comprehensive project preparation is necessary. The government may not have the necessary. manpower and expertise to prepare a project of this type and magnitude.
A consortium of experts comprising of civil engineers, irrigation experts, power engineers, agricultural experts, economists and social workers will have to be formed to study the detailed aspects and prepare a project report.
Conclusion
Different organisations working for the development of Telangana should take up all the issues raised in this paper and work unitedly till the goal is achieved.
SUMMARY Of Final Report of One Man Commission (SPF), Sr. J.M. Girglani, IAS ( Retd.)
PART – 1
SECTION – A
Chapter – 1
This Chapter clears the confusion between Six Point Formula, Presidential Order on Public Employment and G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30-12-1985. Often these are being used interchangeably without knowing the difference and distinction between them. The Presidential order is based on point 3 of the Six Point Formula. The extract title of the Presidential Order is " The Andhra Pradesh Public Employment ( Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975 ( Presidential Order) dated 18th October, 1975. This Chapter also gives the scope of the Report, Viz. the deviations from the Presidential Order, grievances, remedial measures and safeguards. Time frame of the Report is 18th October 1975 to the present day, covering the entire State. The main causes of deviations are the dynamics of the administrative system sometimes bypassing the Presidential Order, oblivion and ignorance of the Presidential Order and lack of any monitoring or guiding machinery or a nodal agency. The deviations are arranged in terms of 18 "Deviation Genres" delineated into 126 findings and 35 sets of remedial measures. The Report in the First Volume contains Part –1, main Final Report and Part-2, further and Final Report on Implementation of the aforesaid G.O.Ms.No. 610, in continuation of the Preliminary Report that had been submitted to the Government within the stipulated period of 90 days, on 6th October, 2001. Volume_II contains the Appendices, Annexures and the proceedings issued by the Commission.
Chapter – 2
This Chapter gives various findings on the deviations with regard to Heads of Departments and other excluded organizations of para-14 of the Presidential Order and G.S.R 529 (E). Most of the deviations in the Findings pertain to expansion of the scope of Heads of Departments and excluded organization to bring into their fold more and more posts to place them outside the Local Cadres. Thus, the 51 Heads of Departments listed in the Annexure to G.O.P.No. 728 of 1- 11-1975, 54 in the Budget Manual, 66 in Financial Code and 78 in Fundamental Rules – got multiplied into 288 ( Planning Department's List), 174 (Finance Department's List), 145 (GAD's List). Even the Heads of Projects are treated as HODs. In a few cases, even the staff of the Regional Offices was treated as Head of Department office staff and placed outside the Local Cadres and the Presidential Order. Same was done in the case of some Institutes. The Report has listed out 102 HOD offices who alone are legitimately entitled to exclusion from localization of cadres under item (b) of Para 14 of the Presidential Order. Major Development Projects were originally kept out of the Presidential Order. On 3rd October 1985 Presidential Order was extended to them only to the extent of non-gazetted categories of staff leaving out AEEs and DEEs. Even posts not used for project works and posts in the projects where work was completed, continue to be labelled as Project Posts for keeping them out of the Local Cadres and out of the Presidential Order. All workcharged establishments of the Projects not engaged in Project Work is kept out of the local cadres. Posts under the new Projects (as for HMWS&SB) not even notified under G.S.R. 525 (E) are treated as Project posts and AEEs and DEEs are kept outside local cadres. Similarly, the fair share principle for deputations to posts in the excluded organizations laid down in G.O.P.No.728 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 1.11.1975 has been flouted. Deputation process has been very often misused.
Chapter – 3
This Chapter gives some Regional Offices that were shifted from Zones-V & VI to some other zones taking away all the posts from Zones-V & VI in the process of re-organisation of the Department. In one Department the Regional Offices were abolished and the posts taken to the Head Office putting them out of the purview of the Presidential Order and Local Cadres. In I & CAD Department some circles crisscross the Zones violating the Zonal cadre limits for posting and transfers. In Drugs Control Department their Regional offices violate Zonal bounds for postings, transfers, seniorities. Some Departments effect inter-zonal transfers in violation of para 5 (2) limitations where a Region has more than one Zone within it.
Chapter – 4
This Chapter deals with Urban Development Authorities. The Presidential Order has made specific provisions regarding HUDA. But other Urban Development Authorities continue to remain outside the Presidential Order and outside Local Cadres. They have to be brought under Presidential Order like HUDA. QQSUDA may be brought under G.S.R. 528 (E) for direct recruitment posts. Deputation posts may be taken from the City Cadre.
Chapter – 5
This Chapter deals with Units of Appointment and Local Cadres. In some Departments there prevails some confusion regarding Units of Appointment and Local Cadres. These two should not criss- cross. There are examples of such criss-cross. Direct recruitment, seniorities etc. can be done among the units of appointment but without crossing the Local Cadre bounds. In some Departments this has not happened. Some of them have even thought that Units of Appointment are Local Cadres.
Chapter – 6
This chapter deals with cross-cadre movement through transfers, deputations and posting employees "On other Duty". Transfers have been the cause of complaint particularly from Zone-IV. Government has recently banned transfers. But, this will have some social side-effects in matters of matrimony etc. The Andhra Pradesh High Court in a Judgement on Police Officers has laid down some sound principles to be observed for transfers. Essentially the High Court advises strict circumspection. This Commission has suggested some formula to offset the loss of opportunities to the Local candidates through the influx of people coming on transfer and also to contain such influx in Zone-VI and similar areas of influx. Deputations have proved to be a rather disconcerting source of deviations from the Presidential Order. The fair share principle of para 9 (B) of the aforesaid G.O.P. 728 dated 01.11.1975 has been almost completely ignored. There are indications of deputations being used as the substitute for transfers and also some undesirable motivations. In the case of Projects, deputations are resorted to even where the posts have ceased to be utilized for Project work and have become departmental posts and also where even the Projects have been completed though not notified as such. In some cases, all the rules about deputations laid down in the Fundamental Rules and the General Service Rules have been indiscriminately flouted to churn out promotions. From one post multiple promotions have been churn out promotions. From one post multiple promotions have been churned out by sending persons on deputations, filling the same post by promotion and keeping up the chain of promotions and deputations. Deputations from excluded organization to other excluded organizations have curtailed the opportunities of the local candidates which the fair share principle would have provided them. Deputations as a source of deviations need stringent vigilance. Damage done has to be set-right. "On other Duty" has also been misused as a devise for inter-cadre movement. Even irregular promotions have been given to people on other duty outside their own local cadres. Instances were found in Irrigation Department.
Chapter – 7
This Chapter is devoted completely to a discussion on workcharged establishment. Right from the beginning before and after the promulgation of the Presidential Order to date, workcharged employees have been kept out of the purview of the Presidential Order for no reason at all. They are "civil posts" in all connotations of this term and the Presidential Order should have been applied to them, but this has not been done. Till 03.10.1985 Major Development Projects were kept out of the purview of the Presidential Order. But once the Presidential order was extended to these Projects there was no justification for keeping workcharged establishments outside the Presidential Order in the Projects. In the regular departments right from beginning there was no justification for such exclusion. Today, their number is 40,870. Of these 17,161 are in Irrigation, 5849 in Roads & Buildings Department, 6860 in Panchayat Raj Engineering Department and the rest in other departments. Surplus staff including a part of the workcharged establishment totalling to 21,866 has also been kept outside the Presidential Order while absorbing them in regular posts. Such exclusion is even more unjustifiable. These have to be brought under the Local Cadres.
Chapter – 8
This Chapter deals with gazetting of posts and specified gazetted category. After the Presidential Order many non-gazetted posts have been gazetted thus taking them away from the purview of Presidential Order and zonal cadre and also depriving local candidates of 70% reservation. It is suggested that the Government of India's orders may be obtained that all such posts shall retain their character as zonal posts and 70% reservation for locals. This Chapter also suggests an important principle of immutability of the original local character of a post as it stood on 18.10.1975. In G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30.12.1985 (regarding Zones V & VI) and also G.O.Ms.No.564 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 05.12.1985 (regarding Zone IV) both carry an assurance for considering the inclusion of first gazetted posts in the specified gazetted category that will make them zonal posts. In fact, the third point in Six Point Formula also stipulates first or second gazetted category (as may be decided for each department), to be included in the specified gazetted category. Therefore it is obligatory to act on this stipulation. Presently, many departments first or second gazetted level stands excluded from the specified gazetted category. On the two issues in this Chapter, it is advisable to take immediate action. Immediate action is also called for to stop any further gazetting of non-gazetted posts.
Chapter – 9
This Chapter deals with compassionate appointments. None of the 35 G.Os on the subject stated that in making such appointments Presidential Order should be followed or that only local candidates should be appointed to concerned local Cadres. On the other hand, some of the G.Os carry instructions to the contrary which are in clear contravention of the Presidential Order. The wrong action taken so far in this regard should be reversed and for the future proper instructions may be issued.
Chapter – 10
This Chapter clarifies that City of Hyderabad which is provided for as a separate " City cadre" in respect of certain posts specified in G.S.R. 528 (E), is specifically defined in terms of Panchayats in the First Schedule to the Presidential Order. This is slightly different from the Hyderabad District to which Hyderabad District Cadre Posts belong. The Hyderabad District comes under Zone VI. City of Hyderabad is by itself the local area for District Cadre posts as well as zonal posts. A third entity, which should be distinguished from these two entities, is the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad. Some wrong postings and promotions have been given due to this mix up. Since, many of the Panchayats in the Schedule of City of Hyderabad have become Municipalities, it is necessary to revise the Schedule delineating the Panchayats in terms of corresponding Revenue villages. Undue benefits or deprivations arising out of the mix up may be reviewed and revised.
Chapter – 11
This Chapter deals with the role of Employment Exchanges and shows that they were not expected to verify or record the local status of the candidates registering with them. Some departments doing direct recruitment or temporary appointments have relied on Employment Exchanges without themselves verifying the local status of the candidates. This has led to the charge of "bogus registrations" in Employment Exchanges. The issue of bogus certificates is also dealt with in this Chapter and it is suggested that institutional level verification of certificates of selected candidates should be done. Similarly, certificates issued by MROs should also be subjected to field verification.
Chapter –12
This Chapter deals with recruitments and allotments that need on-going scrutiny. These pertain to : (1) departments and posts kept outside the purview of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission and / or District Selection Committees; (2) departments with multiple wings but with integrated cadre (3) "umbrella" departments with integrated cadre (4) where a new dispensation is introduced as in case of Panchayat Secretaries. Deviations from the Presidential Order have been noticed in all such organizations, particularly in Sericulture Department. In this regard the most glaring case is that of Panchayat Raj Engineering Department who recruited directly AEEs from among Work Inspectors of their workcharged establishment from the year 1991 to 95 without applying the principle of local candidate for local cadres. These appointments have to be now set right in the manner proposed by the Commission. In Irrigation Department irregularities have come to light. There is case of 102 engineers represented by Hyderabad Engineers Association. It turned out to be pending appeal against initial allotment which was a justified appeal. But action has not been taken on this case. The SP, Karimnagar District had considered 20% to be a reservation for non-locals. The recent appointment of Panchayat Secretaries has been done under G.O.Ms.No. 369 PR&RD (Mandals.II) Dept., dated 12.12.2001. The G.O. has not stated that these appointments should follow the rule of local candidates for local cadres. It has completely overlooked the Presidential Order. The appointments are all in-service appointments. These need to be reviewed and rearranged in terms of localization of cadres.
Chapter –13
This Chapter pertains to some miscellaneous deviations. The backlog of the vacancies reserved for locals in R.R. District were not reserved 100% for locals but were again subjected to 80 : 20 ratio of locals : merit candidates which was incorrect. This should be set right and shortfall made good. It was complained that ITDAs thousands of teachers recruited were non-locals. But the District Collector reported that the services of non-locals and non-tribals had been terminated. Government may check up all these facts. In Government hospitals ANMs allotted by Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission were non-locals for want of local candidates. The Director of Health informed that more training facilities have been created for nurses in the State. College Service Commission erroneously treated Junior Lecturers as zonal posts and also applied 60% reservation, even after they had been gazetted. The `benevolent' error was continued by APPSC. It may be regularized through the general order suggested regarding all newly gazetted posts in Chapter – 8. There has been contravention of the Presidential Order in the year 1985 by recruitment of non-locals to three model residential polytechnics in the Scheduled areas. The Commissioner of Sericulture has also committed such contraventions. All these contraventions have to be reversed and set right.
Chapter –14
This Chapter deals with mechanism to ensure implementation and monitoring of Presidential Order. It is suggested that first and foremost, two fundamental safeguards should be declared unequivocally. First, and the most important is principle of immutability local character of a post as it stood on 18.10.1975. Second, the scope of the Presidential Order as originally promulgated should not be changed. The framework of safeguards is elaborately described in this Chapter. The immediate and impact measures suggested are : (1) to halt recruitment and promotions to the posts up to specified gazetted categories level in the present offices of the HODs until the rectification suggested in Chapter – 2 is carried out and also to halt further gazetting of posts, further compassionate appointments and further absorption/redeployment of surplus staff and further deputations – till remedial measures suggested for these matters are carried out. (2) taking immediate prospective action under the 35 sets of "Remedial Action" in the Report. (3) taking immediate action for the deletion of item (e) of Para 14 of the Presidential Order , and G.S.R. 525 (E), so as to bring the Projects totally under the Presidential Order. (4) to set right the maladies indicated in various findings before resuming the normal process of recruitments, promotions etc. (5) taking immediate redressal action on the individual petitions as per proceedings in Vol. II of this report. (6) appointment of appropriate Implementation and Monitoring Body to initiate action on the Report. (7) providing for certain entries in Service Registers to guard against future deviations. (8) providing for certain particulars to be stipulated in all appointment orders. Long term measures (1) a House Committee (2) A Cabinet Sub Committee and (3) an autonomous Implementation and Monitoring Authority (IMA) and making G.A (SPF) Department the nodal and guiding agency. (4) A Complete training programme for all levels (5) Opening of a website (6) making copies of the Final Report available to all Secretariat Departments, HODs and Collectors as a guidelines book.
Chapter –15
This Chapter is the conspectus. The Commission has mooted the idea of persuading some of the big Corporations to adopt the principles of the Presidential Order through their own Board resolutions as was done by APDDCF Ltd. The main point in this is with regard to retrospective action on the findings. The consensus route as followed in Karnataka could be thought about to avoid unending and long winding litigations. No one can say who lost how much and who gained how much till the departments work out these factors in respect of each finding.
Section – B
Report on implementation of G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30.12.1985.
Para 5 (1)
This Part is in continuation of the Preliminary Report on the subject. Statistically even the figures of locals and non-locals collected by the department of planning show percentage of non-locals in zones V and VI ranging between 3.42% and 11.63%. Hyderabad District shows just below 20%. The question is not the number of non- locals or the percentage but how many of the non-locals are there in violation of the Presidential Order. For this, one has to go to the Main Final Report which has brought out all the deviations and leakages from the Presidential Order. The gigantic task of working out the actual number of the locals deprived through deviations under each of the 126 findings under the 18 deviation genres, in each particular local area (district or zone, as the case may be) and those who benefited in each particular district or zone, has necessarily to be carried out by the concerned departments.
Para 5 (2)
The commitment of the Government under this para to bring three Projects under the Presidential Order remains partially unfulfilled as AEEs (and concomitantly DEEs) and the workcharged employees have not been brought under the Presidential Order. Even the posts of these categories not being utilized in the Projects due to completion of works still continue to be outside the purview of the Presidential Order. The immediate action proposed is to get deleted item (e) of the Para 14 of the Presidential Order along with G.S.R. 525 (E), so that the Projects will be fully under the Presidential Order. The retrospective effect to 1983 was not given. It appears to be of no consequence even if it is given.
Para 5 (3) (a) & (b)
The appeal of 102 AEEs and DEEs brought before the Commission by Hyderabad Engineers Association is pending and the department has also found it to be tenable. Immediate orders seem to be called for.
Para 5 (4)
The demand for bringing all the first gazetted posts under the Presidential Order under specified gazetted categories (Third Schedule) is justified, as it is a commitment under Point-3 of the Six Point Formula. The gazetting of posts after 18.10.1975 should be stopped and those gazetted should be restored their original local zonal status and 70% reservation for local candidates by obtaining Government of India's orders to this effect. Immutability of the local status of a post as of 18-10-1975 has to be strictly observed.
Para 5 (5)
The Government's commitment in this para is only a reiteration of para 9 (B) of G.O.P. 728 dated 01.11.1975. The Commission has observed that this has been by and large observed in the breach. Para 5 (6)
Government has issued orders from time to time to regulate the inter-cadre transfers but they still tend to be quite large in number. The Government has now banned such transfers. The A.P. High Court has laid down very sound principles to be observed for transfers. In the main Final Report (Part – 1) in Chapter – 6 this Commission has given some practical suggestion that could mitigate the grievance on account of transfers.
Para 5 (7)
The most concrete and glaring case is that of 694 AEEs taken by Panchayat Raj Engineering Department without following the local candidate and local cadre rules. This should be set right as proposed by the Commission in Chapter – 12 of the main Final Report (Part– 1). Also the cases of Sericulture Department may be set-right.
Para 5 (8)
No cases have come to light under this para.
Para 5 (9)
It is not possible under the Presidential Order to take non- local of the same zone or multi zone in a particular local cadre. The principle of immutability of the Presidential Order will ensure proper implementation of the Presidential Order.
Para 5 (10)
There are very few persons now who were employed from other zones for want of trained personnel. These are mainly nurses. Training facilities for nurses have been augmented.
Para 5 (11)
There are no cases under this para.
Para 5 (12) (a)
This sub-para is already complied with.
Para5 (12) (b)
The Supreme Court judgement was received. This para stands complied with.
Para 5 (13)
The facts in this para were not correct and this was communicated to TNGOs Association for their comments but they too have not refuted the official version. This para needs no further action.
Para 5 (14)
In its Preliminary Report the Commission had recommended action to be taken on this para. The latest report of the Department of the Public Health Engineering given to the House Committee (of which this Commission has obtained a copy) seems to be rather misleading on the very face of it. It appears that no action has been taken as yet on the Commission's finding in this regard, in the Preliminary Report. Conclusion It may be stated that implementation of G.O.Ms.No.610 with regard to para 5 (1) would mean remedial action on the various findings in the main Final Report (part –1). To the extent that zones V and VI are affected such action would mean implementation of this para. Implementation of sub-paras 7 to 13 of Para 5 is either completed or does not arise. Sub-Paras 2 to 6 of Para 5 are not confined to zones V and VI alone. But are a part of the deviations contained in the Main Final Report, in which all the zones and all the districts are involved. Implementation of these sub-paras would be a part of the implementation of the main Final Report. Who are the losers and who are the beneficiaries ? Until each findings is taken up for remedial action no one can say which are the local areas (districts/zones) whose local candidates have been the losers/gainers. One thing is certain that Zones V and VI are not the gainers, but the losers. The deviations in Chapter-1 of the main Final Report and also in Chapter – 6 have adversely affected Zone VI.
* * * * *
PART – 2
Chapter –16
Heads of Departments (HODS)
Finding No. 23-A : A sampling of 17 Head of Department Offices shows that LDC level and upwards, District Cadre and Zonal Cadre posts approximately 50% only are held by locals. By extrapolation, Heads of Departments which do not qualify for HOD status under Presidential Order have deprived locals of their reservation at 80% / 70%.
Regional Offices :
Finding No.40-A : The provision under Para 5 (2) (b) of the Presidential Order, incorporated in AP Ministerial Service Rules as Rule 16 – A, has been mutilated out of context and mis-applied for inter-zonal transfers within a Region. It does not permit inter-cadre transfers either between districts or between Zones even within a Region. The Rule is only to facilitate transfers between the Regional Office and the subordinate offices and vice versa.
Unit of Appointment / Local Cadre
Finding No.47-A : Promotions were given to the Village Development Officers, Grade-II to the posts of Village Development Officers, Grade-I (both zonal posts) with district as a unit, not the Zone as contemplated under the Presidential Order.
Cross Cadre Movement
Finding No.48-A/ 48-B/ 48-C : Initial appointment and later regularization of Part-time Lecturers was made without observing the Presidential Order with regard to local area or reservation of local candidates.
Finding No.51-A : Inter zonal transfers of Town Planning Officers by the Director of Town and Country Planning without the permission of the Government in violation of Para 5(2) of the Presidential Order have been brought to the notice of Government.
Finding No. 51-B : In the department of Treasuries and Accounts persons were transferred from Zones to the Head of Department office when the rules have no provision for such transfers as per Para 5(2) (a) of the Presidential Order in violation of the Presidential Order.
Deputations and Fair Share Principle
Finding No.68-A/68-B : In violation of Presidential Order, posts are transferred from local cadres to HOD officers and utilized there (1) In the Information and Public Relations Department (2) In Co- operative Department where posts of Cooperative Sub-Registrars are being utilized in HOD office.
On Other Duty (OD)
Finding No. 73-A : Five posts of Lecturers in the Collegiate Cell of the SCERT (a State Level Office as per GSR 527), were treated as "Floating posts" in G.O.Ms.No. 572, Education, dated 24.05.1976 in deviation of the Presidential Order., Finding No. 73-B : Division IV of Special Design Circle of Irrigation & CAD Department, located in the City was misused for bringing people from other Zones to the City "on other duty" and kept there in violation of the Presidential Order.
Work Charged Establishment
Finding No.86-A : Work-charged employees have not only been appointed in disregard of the Presidential Order but also continued to be treated as out-side the Presidential Order. They are being transferred from anywhere to anywhere, regardless of their local status.
Gazetting of Posts and Specified Gazetted Category
Finding No.97-A : The post of Horticulture Officer, originally Assistant Agriculture Officer, became Horticulature Officer on bifurcation of Agriculture Department. Hence Horticulture Officer post should also be brought under the 60% reservation along with the posts specified in Para 8 (3) of the Presidential Order, retrospectively. Finding No.97-B : Some posts that were non-gazetted on 18-10-75 and were gazetted thereafter, continue to be treated as Zonal posts and also with reservation of 70% in direct recruitment. However, to legalize their immutable status amendments are to be made to Para 2 and Para 8 of the Presidential Order, duly obtaining orders of Government of India.
Compassionate Appointments
Finding No.102-A : Compassionate Appointment on medical invalidation, are also a direct recruitment. The Presidential Order should apply to them as to all direct recruitments.
Miscellaneous Deviations
Finding No.126-A : Misinterpretation of the _expression "local cadre" had occurred in School Education. This connotation has been set right by the Government on a reference from this Commission.
Post of Associate Lecturer in Polytechnics
Finding No.126-B/ 126-C : The post of Associate Lecturer created to replace two non-gazetted categories, should continue to enjoy the Zonal status as well as 70% reservation for locals regardless of being gazetted and regardless of later re-designation as Lecturer, as per the principle of immutability of a post under Presidential Order. The original post of `Lecturer' having been redesignated as "Senior Lecturer" in 1998 should be included in Third Schedule by the new designation retrospectively since that date. Government of India's orders are to be obtained in this regard. Finding No.126-D : Where a new Organization come under the purview of the Presidential Order for the first time, local cadres should be formed following the procedure laid down under Para 3 and Para 4(2) of the Presidential Order. Finding No.126-E/ 126-F : Many Departments have no Service Rules still—viz., Civil Supplies Department, Treasuries and Accounts Department, State Audit Department and some other Departments. Service Rules have not yet been revised on the basis of the recommendations of the One Man Commission of Sri Sundaresan, IAS (Retd.), which should be expedited through a special drive.
J.M. GIRGLANI, IAS (Retd.)
ONE MAN COMMISSION (S.P.F)
Hyderabad
PART – 1
SECTION – A
Chapter – 1
This Chapter clears the confusion between Six Point Formula, Presidential Order on Public Employment and G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30-12-1985. Often these are being used interchangeably without knowing the difference and distinction between them. The Presidential order is based on point 3 of the Six Point Formula. The extract title of the Presidential Order is " The Andhra Pradesh Public Employment ( Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975 ( Presidential Order) dated 18th October, 1975. This Chapter also gives the scope of the Report, Viz. the deviations from the Presidential Order, grievances, remedial measures and safeguards. Time frame of the Report is 18th October 1975 to the present day, covering the entire State. The main causes of deviations are the dynamics of the administrative system sometimes bypassing the Presidential Order, oblivion and ignorance of the Presidential Order and lack of any monitoring or guiding machinery or a nodal agency. The deviations are arranged in terms of 18 "Deviation Genres" delineated into 126 findings and 35 sets of remedial measures. The Report in the First Volume contains Part –1, main Final Report and Part-2, further and Final Report on Implementation of the aforesaid G.O.Ms.No. 610, in continuation of the Preliminary Report that had been submitted to the Government within the stipulated period of 90 days, on 6th October, 2001. Volume_II contains the Appendices, Annexures and the proceedings issued by the Commission.
Chapter – 2
This Chapter gives various findings on the deviations with regard to Heads of Departments and other excluded organizations of para-14 of the Presidential Order and G.S.R 529 (E). Most of the deviations in the Findings pertain to expansion of the scope of Heads of Departments and excluded organization to bring into their fold more and more posts to place them outside the Local Cadres. Thus, the 51 Heads of Departments listed in the Annexure to G.O.P.No. 728 of 1- 11-1975, 54 in the Budget Manual, 66 in Financial Code and 78 in Fundamental Rules – got multiplied into 288 ( Planning Department's List), 174 (Finance Department's List), 145 (GAD's List). Even the Heads of Projects are treated as HODs. In a few cases, even the staff of the Regional Offices was treated as Head of Department office staff and placed outside the Local Cadres and the Presidential Order. Same was done in the case of some Institutes. The Report has listed out 102 HOD offices who alone are legitimately entitled to exclusion from localization of cadres under item (b) of Para 14 of the Presidential Order. Major Development Projects were originally kept out of the Presidential Order. On 3rd October 1985 Presidential Order was extended to them only to the extent of non-gazetted categories of staff leaving out AEEs and DEEs. Even posts not used for project works and posts in the projects where work was completed, continue to be labelled as Project Posts for keeping them out of the Local Cadres and out of the Presidential Order. All workcharged establishments of the Projects not engaged in Project Work is kept out of the local cadres. Posts under the new Projects (as for HMWS&SB) not even notified under G.S.R. 525 (E) are treated as Project posts and AEEs and DEEs are kept outside local cadres. Similarly, the fair share principle for deputations to posts in the excluded organizations laid down in G.O.P.No.728 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 1.11.1975 has been flouted. Deputation process has been very often misused.
Chapter – 3
This Chapter gives some Regional Offices that were shifted from Zones-V & VI to some other zones taking away all the posts from Zones-V & VI in the process of re-organisation of the Department. In one Department the Regional Offices were abolished and the posts taken to the Head Office putting them out of the purview of the Presidential Order and Local Cadres. In I & CAD Department some circles crisscross the Zones violating the Zonal cadre limits for posting and transfers. In Drugs Control Department their Regional offices violate Zonal bounds for postings, transfers, seniorities. Some Departments effect inter-zonal transfers in violation of para 5 (2) limitations where a Region has more than one Zone within it.
Chapter – 4
This Chapter deals with Urban Development Authorities. The Presidential Order has made specific provisions regarding HUDA. But other Urban Development Authorities continue to remain outside the Presidential Order and outside Local Cadres. They have to be brought under Presidential Order like HUDA. QQSUDA may be brought under G.S.R. 528 (E) for direct recruitment posts. Deputation posts may be taken from the City Cadre.
Chapter – 5
This Chapter deals with Units of Appointment and Local Cadres. In some Departments there prevails some confusion regarding Units of Appointment and Local Cadres. These two should not criss- cross. There are examples of such criss-cross. Direct recruitment, seniorities etc. can be done among the units of appointment but without crossing the Local Cadre bounds. In some Departments this has not happened. Some of them have even thought that Units of Appointment are Local Cadres.
Chapter – 6
This chapter deals with cross-cadre movement through transfers, deputations and posting employees "On other Duty". Transfers have been the cause of complaint particularly from Zone-IV. Government has recently banned transfers. But, this will have some social side-effects in matters of matrimony etc. The Andhra Pradesh High Court in a Judgement on Police Officers has laid down some sound principles to be observed for transfers. Essentially the High Court advises strict circumspection. This Commission has suggested some formula to offset the loss of opportunities to the Local candidates through the influx of people coming on transfer and also to contain such influx in Zone-VI and similar areas of influx. Deputations have proved to be a rather disconcerting source of deviations from the Presidential Order. The fair share principle of para 9 (B) of the aforesaid G.O.P. 728 dated 01.11.1975 has been almost completely ignored. There are indications of deputations being used as the substitute for transfers and also some undesirable motivations. In the case of Projects, deputations are resorted to even where the posts have ceased to be utilized for Project work and have become departmental posts and also where even the Projects have been completed though not notified as such. In some cases, all the rules about deputations laid down in the Fundamental Rules and the General Service Rules have been indiscriminately flouted to churn out promotions. From one post multiple promotions have been churn out promotions. From one post multiple promotions have been churned out by sending persons on deputations, filling the same post by promotion and keeping up the chain of promotions and deputations. Deputations from excluded organization to other excluded organizations have curtailed the opportunities of the local candidates which the fair share principle would have provided them. Deputations as a source of deviations need stringent vigilance. Damage done has to be set-right. "On other Duty" has also been misused as a devise for inter-cadre movement. Even irregular promotions have been given to people on other duty outside their own local cadres. Instances were found in Irrigation Department.
Chapter – 7
This Chapter is devoted completely to a discussion on workcharged establishment. Right from the beginning before and after the promulgation of the Presidential Order to date, workcharged employees have been kept out of the purview of the Presidential Order for no reason at all. They are "civil posts" in all connotations of this term and the Presidential Order should have been applied to them, but this has not been done. Till 03.10.1985 Major Development Projects were kept out of the purview of the Presidential Order. But once the Presidential order was extended to these Projects there was no justification for keeping workcharged establishments outside the Presidential Order in the Projects. In the regular departments right from beginning there was no justification for such exclusion. Today, their number is 40,870. Of these 17,161 are in Irrigation, 5849 in Roads & Buildings Department, 6860 in Panchayat Raj Engineering Department and the rest in other departments. Surplus staff including a part of the workcharged establishment totalling to 21,866 has also been kept outside the Presidential Order while absorbing them in regular posts. Such exclusion is even more unjustifiable. These have to be brought under the Local Cadres.
Chapter – 8
This Chapter deals with gazetting of posts and specified gazetted category. After the Presidential Order many non-gazetted posts have been gazetted thus taking them away from the purview of Presidential Order and zonal cadre and also depriving local candidates of 70% reservation. It is suggested that the Government of India's orders may be obtained that all such posts shall retain their character as zonal posts and 70% reservation for locals. This Chapter also suggests an important principle of immutability of the original local character of a post as it stood on 18.10.1975. In G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30.12.1985 (regarding Zones V & VI) and also G.O.Ms.No.564 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 05.12.1985 (regarding Zone IV) both carry an assurance for considering the inclusion of first gazetted posts in the specified gazetted category that will make them zonal posts. In fact, the third point in Six Point Formula also stipulates first or second gazetted category (as may be decided for each department), to be included in the specified gazetted category. Therefore it is obligatory to act on this stipulation. Presently, many departments first or second gazetted level stands excluded from the specified gazetted category. On the two issues in this Chapter, it is advisable to take immediate action. Immediate action is also called for to stop any further gazetting of non-gazetted posts.
Chapter – 9
This Chapter deals with compassionate appointments. None of the 35 G.Os on the subject stated that in making such appointments Presidential Order should be followed or that only local candidates should be appointed to concerned local Cadres. On the other hand, some of the G.Os carry instructions to the contrary which are in clear contravention of the Presidential Order. The wrong action taken so far in this regard should be reversed and for the future proper instructions may be issued.
Chapter – 10
This Chapter clarifies that City of Hyderabad which is provided for as a separate " City cadre" in respect of certain posts specified in G.S.R. 528 (E), is specifically defined in terms of Panchayats in the First Schedule to the Presidential Order. This is slightly different from the Hyderabad District to which Hyderabad District Cadre Posts belong. The Hyderabad District comes under Zone VI. City of Hyderabad is by itself the local area for District Cadre posts as well as zonal posts. A third entity, which should be distinguished from these two entities, is the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad. Some wrong postings and promotions have been given due to this mix up. Since, many of the Panchayats in the Schedule of City of Hyderabad have become Municipalities, it is necessary to revise the Schedule delineating the Panchayats in terms of corresponding Revenue villages. Undue benefits or deprivations arising out of the mix up may be reviewed and revised.
Chapter – 11
This Chapter deals with the role of Employment Exchanges and shows that they were not expected to verify or record the local status of the candidates registering with them. Some departments doing direct recruitment or temporary appointments have relied on Employment Exchanges without themselves verifying the local status of the candidates. This has led to the charge of "bogus registrations" in Employment Exchanges. The issue of bogus certificates is also dealt with in this Chapter and it is suggested that institutional level verification of certificates of selected candidates should be done. Similarly, certificates issued by MROs should also be subjected to field verification.
Chapter –12
This Chapter deals with recruitments and allotments that need on-going scrutiny. These pertain to : (1) departments and posts kept outside the purview of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission and / or District Selection Committees; (2) departments with multiple wings but with integrated cadre (3) "umbrella" departments with integrated cadre (4) where a new dispensation is introduced as in case of Panchayat Secretaries. Deviations from the Presidential Order have been noticed in all such organizations, particularly in Sericulture Department. In this regard the most glaring case is that of Panchayat Raj Engineering Department who recruited directly AEEs from among Work Inspectors of their workcharged establishment from the year 1991 to 95 without applying the principle of local candidate for local cadres. These appointments have to be now set right in the manner proposed by the Commission. In Irrigation Department irregularities have come to light. There is case of 102 engineers represented by Hyderabad Engineers Association. It turned out to be pending appeal against initial allotment which was a justified appeal. But action has not been taken on this case. The SP, Karimnagar District had considered 20% to be a reservation for non-locals. The recent appointment of Panchayat Secretaries has been done under G.O.Ms.No. 369 PR&RD (Mandals.II) Dept., dated 12.12.2001. The G.O. has not stated that these appointments should follow the rule of local candidates for local cadres. It has completely overlooked the Presidential Order. The appointments are all in-service appointments. These need to be reviewed and rearranged in terms of localization of cadres.
Chapter –13
This Chapter pertains to some miscellaneous deviations. The backlog of the vacancies reserved for locals in R.R. District were not reserved 100% for locals but were again subjected to 80 : 20 ratio of locals : merit candidates which was incorrect. This should be set right and shortfall made good. It was complained that ITDAs thousands of teachers recruited were non-locals. But the District Collector reported that the services of non-locals and non-tribals had been terminated. Government may check up all these facts. In Government hospitals ANMs allotted by Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission were non-locals for want of local candidates. The Director of Health informed that more training facilities have been created for nurses in the State. College Service Commission erroneously treated Junior Lecturers as zonal posts and also applied 60% reservation, even after they had been gazetted. The `benevolent' error was continued by APPSC. It may be regularized through the general order suggested regarding all newly gazetted posts in Chapter – 8. There has been contravention of the Presidential Order in the year 1985 by recruitment of non-locals to three model residential polytechnics in the Scheduled areas. The Commissioner of Sericulture has also committed such contraventions. All these contraventions have to be reversed and set right.
Chapter –14
This Chapter deals with mechanism to ensure implementation and monitoring of Presidential Order. It is suggested that first and foremost, two fundamental safeguards should be declared unequivocally. First, and the most important is principle of immutability local character of a post as it stood on 18.10.1975. Second, the scope of the Presidential Order as originally promulgated should not be changed. The framework of safeguards is elaborately described in this Chapter. The immediate and impact measures suggested are : (1) to halt recruitment and promotions to the posts up to specified gazetted categories level in the present offices of the HODs until the rectification suggested in Chapter – 2 is carried out and also to halt further gazetting of posts, further compassionate appointments and further absorption/redeployment of surplus staff and further deputations – till remedial measures suggested for these matters are carried out. (2) taking immediate prospective action under the 35 sets of "Remedial Action" in the Report. (3) taking immediate action for the deletion of item (e) of Para 14 of the Presidential Order , and G.S.R. 525 (E), so as to bring the Projects totally under the Presidential Order. (4) to set right the maladies indicated in various findings before resuming the normal process of recruitments, promotions etc. (5) taking immediate redressal action on the individual petitions as per proceedings in Vol. II of this report. (6) appointment of appropriate Implementation and Monitoring Body to initiate action on the Report. (7) providing for certain entries in Service Registers to guard against future deviations. (8) providing for certain particulars to be stipulated in all appointment orders. Long term measures (1) a House Committee (2) A Cabinet Sub Committee and (3) an autonomous Implementation and Monitoring Authority (IMA) and making G.A (SPF) Department the nodal and guiding agency. (4) A Complete training programme for all levels (5) Opening of a website (6) making copies of the Final Report available to all Secretariat Departments, HODs and Collectors as a guidelines book.
Chapter –15
This Chapter is the conspectus. The Commission has mooted the idea of persuading some of the big Corporations to adopt the principles of the Presidential Order through their own Board resolutions as was done by APDDCF Ltd. The main point in this is with regard to retrospective action on the findings. The consensus route as followed in Karnataka could be thought about to avoid unending and long winding litigations. No one can say who lost how much and who gained how much till the departments work out these factors in respect of each finding.
Section – B
Report on implementation of G.O.Ms.No.610 G.A. (SPF.A) Dept., dated 30.12.1985.
Para 5 (1)
This Part is in continuation of the Preliminary Report on the subject. Statistically even the figures of locals and non-locals collected by the department of planning show percentage of non-locals in zones V and VI ranging between 3.42% and 11.63%. Hyderabad District shows just below 20%. The question is not the number of non- locals or the percentage but how many of the non-locals are there in violation of the Presidential Order. For this, one has to go to the Main Final Report which has brought out all the deviations and leakages from the Presidential Order. The gigantic task of working out the actual number of the locals deprived through deviations under each of the 126 findings under the 18 deviation genres, in each particular local area (district or zone, as the case may be) and those who benefited in each particular district or zone, has necessarily to be carried out by the concerned departments.
Para 5 (2)
The commitment of the Government under this para to bring three Projects under the Presidential Order remains partially unfulfilled as AEEs (and concomitantly DEEs) and the workcharged employees have not been brought under the Presidential Order. Even the posts of these categories not being utilized in the Projects due to completion of works still continue to be outside the purview of the Presidential Order. The immediate action proposed is to get deleted item (e) of the Para 14 of the Presidential Order along with G.S.R. 525 (E), so that the Projects will be fully under the Presidential Order. The retrospective effect to 1983 was not given. It appears to be of no consequence even if it is given.
Para 5 (3) (a) & (b)
The appeal of 102 AEEs and DEEs brought before the Commission by Hyderabad Engineers Association is pending and the department has also found it to be tenable. Immediate orders seem to be called for.
Para 5 (4)
The demand for bringing all the first gazetted posts under the Presidential Order under specified gazetted categories (Third Schedule) is justified, as it is a commitment under Point-3 of the Six Point Formula. The gazetting of posts after 18.10.1975 should be stopped and those gazetted should be restored their original local zonal status and 70% reservation for local candidates by obtaining Government of India's orders to this effect. Immutability of the local status of a post as of 18-10-1975 has to be strictly observed.
Para 5 (5)
The Government's commitment in this para is only a reiteration of para 9 (B) of G.O.P. 728 dated 01.11.1975. The Commission has observed that this has been by and large observed in the breach. Para 5 (6)
Government has issued orders from time to time to regulate the inter-cadre transfers but they still tend to be quite large in number. The Government has now banned such transfers. The A.P. High Court has laid down very sound principles to be observed for transfers. In the main Final Report (Part – 1) in Chapter – 6 this Commission has given some practical suggestion that could mitigate the grievance on account of transfers.
Para 5 (7)
The most concrete and glaring case is that of 694 AEEs taken by Panchayat Raj Engineering Department without following the local candidate and local cadre rules. This should be set right as proposed by the Commission in Chapter – 12 of the main Final Report (Part– 1). Also the cases of Sericulture Department may be set-right.
Para 5 (8)
No cases have come to light under this para.
Para 5 (9)
It is not possible under the Presidential Order to take non- local of the same zone or multi zone in a particular local cadre. The principle of immutability of the Presidential Order will ensure proper implementation of the Presidential Order.
Para 5 (10)
There are very few persons now who were employed from other zones for want of trained personnel. These are mainly nurses. Training facilities for nurses have been augmented.
Para 5 (11)
There are no cases under this para.
Para 5 (12) (a)
This sub-para is already complied with.
Para5 (12) (b)
The Supreme Court judgement was received. This para stands complied with.
Para 5 (13)
The facts in this para were not correct and this was communicated to TNGOs Association for their comments but they too have not refuted the official version. This para needs no further action.
Para 5 (14)
In its Preliminary Report the Commission had recommended action to be taken on this para. The latest report of the Department of the Public Health Engineering given to the House Committee (of which this Commission has obtained a copy) seems to be rather misleading on the very face of it. It appears that no action has been taken as yet on the Commission's finding in this regard, in the Preliminary Report. Conclusion It may be stated that implementation of G.O.Ms.No.610 with regard to para 5 (1) would mean remedial action on the various findings in the main Final Report (part –1). To the extent that zones V and VI are affected such action would mean implementation of this para. Implementation of sub-paras 7 to 13 of Para 5 is either completed or does not arise. Sub-Paras 2 to 6 of Para 5 are not confined to zones V and VI alone. But are a part of the deviations contained in the Main Final Report, in which all the zones and all the districts are involved. Implementation of these sub-paras would be a part of the implementation of the main Final Report. Who are the losers and who are the beneficiaries ? Until each findings is taken up for remedial action no one can say which are the local areas (districts/zones) whose local candidates have been the losers/gainers. One thing is certain that Zones V and VI are not the gainers, but the losers. The deviations in Chapter-1 of the main Final Report and also in Chapter – 6 have adversely affected Zone VI.
* * * * *
PART – 2
Chapter –16
Heads of Departments (HODS)
Finding No. 23-A : A sampling of 17 Head of Department Offices shows that LDC level and upwards, District Cadre and Zonal Cadre posts approximately 50% only are held by locals. By extrapolation, Heads of Departments which do not qualify for HOD status under Presidential Order have deprived locals of their reservation at 80% / 70%.
Regional Offices :
Finding No.40-A : The provision under Para 5 (2) (b) of the Presidential Order, incorporated in AP Ministerial Service Rules as Rule 16 – A, has been mutilated out of context and mis-applied for inter-zonal transfers within a Region. It does not permit inter-cadre transfers either between districts or between Zones even within a Region. The Rule is only to facilitate transfers between the Regional Office and the subordinate offices and vice versa.
Unit of Appointment / Local Cadre
Finding No.47-A : Promotions were given to the Village Development Officers, Grade-II to the posts of Village Development Officers, Grade-I (both zonal posts) with district as a unit, not the Zone as contemplated under the Presidential Order.
Cross Cadre Movement
Finding No.48-A/ 48-B/ 48-C : Initial appointment and later regularization of Part-time Lecturers was made without observing the Presidential Order with regard to local area or reservation of local candidates.
Finding No.51-A : Inter zonal transfers of Town Planning Officers by the Director of Town and Country Planning without the permission of the Government in violation of Para 5(2) of the Presidential Order have been brought to the notice of Government.
Finding No. 51-B : In the department of Treasuries and Accounts persons were transferred from Zones to the Head of Department office when the rules have no provision for such transfers as per Para 5(2) (a) of the Presidential Order in violation of the Presidential Order.
Deputations and Fair Share Principle
Finding No.68-A/68-B : In violation of Presidential Order, posts are transferred from local cadres to HOD officers and utilized there (1) In the Information and Public Relations Department (2) In Co- operative Department where posts of Cooperative Sub-Registrars are being utilized in HOD office.
On Other Duty (OD)
Finding No. 73-A : Five posts of Lecturers in the Collegiate Cell of the SCERT (a State Level Office as per GSR 527), were treated as "Floating posts" in G.O.Ms.No. 572, Education, dated 24.05.1976 in deviation of the Presidential Order., Finding No. 73-B : Division IV of Special Design Circle of Irrigation & CAD Department, located in the City was misused for bringing people from other Zones to the City "on other duty" and kept there in violation of the Presidential Order.
Work Charged Establishment
Finding No.86-A : Work-charged employees have not only been appointed in disregard of the Presidential Order but also continued to be treated as out-side the Presidential Order. They are being transferred from anywhere to anywhere, regardless of their local status.
Gazetting of Posts and Specified Gazetted Category
Finding No.97-A : The post of Horticulture Officer, originally Assistant Agriculture Officer, became Horticulature Officer on bifurcation of Agriculture Department. Hence Horticulture Officer post should also be brought under the 60% reservation along with the posts specified in Para 8 (3) of the Presidential Order, retrospectively. Finding No.97-B : Some posts that were non-gazetted on 18-10-75 and were gazetted thereafter, continue to be treated as Zonal posts and also with reservation of 70% in direct recruitment. However, to legalize their immutable status amendments are to be made to Para 2 and Para 8 of the Presidential Order, duly obtaining orders of Government of India.
Compassionate Appointments
Finding No.102-A : Compassionate Appointment on medical invalidation, are also a direct recruitment. The Presidential Order should apply to them as to all direct recruitments.
Miscellaneous Deviations
Finding No.126-A : Misinterpretation of the _expression "local cadre" had occurred in School Education. This connotation has been set right by the Government on a reference from this Commission.
Post of Associate Lecturer in Polytechnics
Finding No.126-B/ 126-C : The post of Associate Lecturer created to replace two non-gazetted categories, should continue to enjoy the Zonal status as well as 70% reservation for locals regardless of being gazetted and regardless of later re-designation as Lecturer, as per the principle of immutability of a post under Presidential Order. The original post of `Lecturer' having been redesignated as "Senior Lecturer" in 1998 should be included in Third Schedule by the new designation retrospectively since that date. Government of India's orders are to be obtained in this regard. Finding No.126-D : Where a new Organization come under the purview of the Presidential Order for the first time, local cadres should be formed following the procedure laid down under Para 3 and Para 4(2) of the Presidential Order. Finding No.126-E/ 126-F : Many Departments have no Service Rules still—viz., Civil Supplies Department, Treasuries and Accounts Department, State Audit Department and some other Departments. Service Rules have not yet been revised on the basis of the recommendations of the One Man Commission of Sri Sundaresan, IAS (Retd.), which should be expedited through a special drive.
J.M. GIRGLANI, IAS (Retd.)
ONE MAN COMMISSION (S.P.F)
Hyderabad
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