Centre fixes Aug 8 to resolve issues between TS & AP

New Delhi: In its bid to resolve the long-pending interstate issues like sharing of assets and other issues related to the AP State Reorganisation Act 2014, the Centre has asked officials of the two states to come to Delhi on August 8. The meeting will be held in North Block in the national capital.

The meeting to be presided over by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and the top officials of the two state governments will attend. Official sources said the meeting will discuss eight main issues related to bifurcation which includes division of AP Bhavan, disputes that had arisen under Schedule IX and X, adjustment of the power dues, division of AP State Finance Commission (APSFC), establishment of Tribal university in Telangana and Greyhounds training centre in Andhra Pradesh and bifurcation of AP State Council for Higher Education.

Official sources said that the Telangana government has been demanding that AP Bhavan in Delhi be handed over to Telangana and agreed to pay compensation to Andhra Pradesh. The government claimed Telangana has every right to ask for the property since the building was constructed by Nizams.

Sources said that the two states also locked horns over the division of state Finance Corporation. The AP government lodged a complaint with department of Financial Services in the union ministry and challenged the Telangana demand for handing over the corporation.

The issues pertaining to the division of assets in 91 institutions under Schedule IX has also been pending since 2014. The Centre had constituted Sheela Bhide committee and made recommendations to address the issues, but Telangana government raised objections.

While the AP government has already issued orders on division of assets and debts based on the recommendations, the TS government objected to it and informed the Centre that the AP orders were unilateral.

Sources said that the Telangana government will make detailed presentation on the status of the division of assets and also pending fulfillment of the promises mainly the establishment of Bayyaram steel plant, railway coach factory in Kazipet.

State Chief Secretary SK Joshi, Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and top officials from Energy department are expected to attend the high-level meeting.