Latest news with #A.P.ReorganisationAct
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SCoR Mazdoor Union seeks swift action on operationalisation of railway zone
A delegation from the South Coast Railway Mazdoor Union, led by DRUCC Member Chalasani Gandhi and General Secretary Ch. Sankara Rao, met Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and submitted a memorandum urging swift action on the long-pending operationalisation of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone. The union noted that although the SCoR was sanctioned in 2019 under the A.P. Reorganisation Act, a formal Gazette Notification is still awaited, delaying the full-fledged functioning of the zone headquartered in Visakhapatnam. Despite the Cabinet's approval in February 2019 and submission of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by August that year, no significant progress has followed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the zonal headquarters on January 8, 2025. While a General Manager was appointed on June 5, 2025, the post remains ineffective due to the absence of administrative powers, as the Gazette Notification is still pending. The constituent divisions — Vijayawada, Guntakal, Guntur, and Waltair (to be bifurcated into Rayagada and Visakhapatnam) — continue under their previous zones. The union pointed out that other zones like ECoR, NCR, SECR, and SWR began operations soon after their formation via Gazette Notifications, even without permanent infrastructure. The leaders urged Mr. Sribharat to press the Prime Minister, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and other top officials to ensure the Gazette Notification is issued by August 15, 2025. Mr. Sribharat assured them that he would take up the issue with the concerned ministries in Delhi.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uncertainty over Naidu-Revanth meet as Telangana objects to Banakacherla in agenda
Uncertainty prevails over the scheduled meeting between the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at the behest of Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday following strong objection raised by Telangana over the agenda fixed for the meeting — to discuss the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project proposed by A.P. In a letter addressed to MoJS Secretary Debashree Mukherjee in response to the meeting notice, Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao mentioned that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had repeatedly communicated Telangana's objections to the project proposed by A.P. They had been clearly stating that the A.P.'s proposal violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award as also the A.P. Reorganisation Act. It also lacks statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission, Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards and the Apex Council. The pre-feasibility report submitted by A.P. contains critical data gaps and methodological deficiencies, particularly on water availability assumptions and technical feasibility, the Chief Secretary said in his letter. Further, the expert appraisal committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest had returned the project proposal citing violations of legal and procedural aspects and the GRMB had observed that diversion of 200 tmc ft water from Polavaram for the proposed project would change scope as well as operation schedule of the Polavaram project, which already has unresolved submergence issues in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Stating that the AP's proposal would undermine the rights of Telangana in Godavari water, he urged the MoJS Secretary to direct CWC to reject the pre-feasibility report of Banalacherla project, prevent A.P. from submitting detailed project report, stop finalising tenders and not to discuss/approve at any forum/by any agency. He also cited the objections raised by the Polavaram Project Authority, GRMB, CWC and EAC of MoEF on A.P.'s proposal. The Chief Secretary, however, welcomed the initiative of the MoJS to convene a meeting to sort out the other outstanding issues, provided the meeting agenda is revised by including the issues raised by Telangana in another letter such as clearance to Godavari Basin projects based on assured water and issues in the Krishna Basin — clearances to the projects proposed in Telangana by the erstwhile A.P.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Revenue Services Association refutes reports on cadre irregularities
In response to recent media reports alleging irregularities in the Revenue Department's cadre structure, the Andhra Pradesh Revenue Services Association has issued a clarification, calling the claims 'misinformation,' particularly regarding permanent and temporary posts such as the Election Deputy Tahsildar (EPIC DT) roles. In a statement issued on Monday, Association leaders Bopparaju Venkateswarlu and Ramisetti Venkata Rajesh explained that the EPIC DT posts were created in 2008 and have functioned continuously for the past 17 years across different governments. These positions, they said, are critical for handling voter enrolment, deletions, and issuing Electoral Photo ID Cards in coordination with the Election Commission of India (ECI). While the ECI has recommended that the posts be made permanent, the State government has extended them annually without formally regularising them. Quoting Section 4(1)(b) of the A.P. State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996, the association argued that posts existing for over five years are considered substantive and should be included in the cadre strength—something that has already been done in this case. The association stressed that no new posts were created during the previous government's tenure. The unified process launched in 2021 merely declared existing posts, completing the formalities in 2023 as per the A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014. Allegations that deputation-based posts are being made permanent were also dismissed as baseless. They clarified that cadre restructuring falls under the purview of the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), with the Finance Department serving only an advisory role. With the matter currently under judicial review, the association said further action would depend on the High Court's verdict.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CPI(M) opposes second phase of land pooling for Amaravati
The CPI(M) has opposed the government's decision to acquire an additional 44,000 acres of land for the development of the capital city of Amaravati. In a statement on Wednesday, CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said the government should withdraw this decision, calling it 'unnecessary, harmful, and driven by real estate interests' rather than genuine developmental needs. Even after pooling 34,000 acres of land 11 years ago, the capital construction remained incomplete. Without utilising the already acquired land effectively, planning a second phase of land pooling only added to the woes of the farmers and the poor, who had surrendered their lands with the hope of better opportunities, he said. Seeking to know the rationale behind constructing a new greenfield airport in Amaravati when an operational airport already existed at Gannavaram, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said, 'This is not for development, but to serve real estate interests.' Instead of acquiring more land, the focus should be on improving existing infrastructure and ensuring the proper implementation of planned projects in the newly developed urban zones, he said. Highlighting the unused land bank already with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), he pointed out that despite having one lakh acres in reserve, not a single new industry had been established. 'This proves the government's failure to decentralise industrial development across the State,' he said. The Central and State governments had collectively failed to develop the Amaravati capital as promised in the A.P. Reorganisation Act. It accused the Centre of neglecting its responsibility to provide funds and blamed successive State governments for initiating grandiose but unfulfilled projects. 'After years of instability and suffering, the residents of Amaravati should not be subjected to further uncertainty,' he said, adding the government failed to provide basic amenities, promised plots, employment, and welfare benefits such as free education and healthcare to those who gave up their lands in the first phase.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A 1991 batch IAS officer who prepared 14 budgets takes charge as Telangana's Chief Secretary
Telangana's Finance Department's Special Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, a 1991 batch IAS officer, assumed office of State's Chief Secretary on Wednesday (April 30, 2025). He replaces A. Santhi Kumari who has been in the post since January, 2023, and retires from service today on attaining the age of superannuation. Mr. Rao, as Finance Secretary, prepared 14 budgets of the State, including two vote-on-account budgets during his decade-long tenure in the department. Mr. Rao as the new Chief Secretary will also hold full additional charge (FAC) as Special Chief Secretary of Finance. A Master's degree holder in Business Administration (Investments), Mr. Rao has completed his Bachelor's and Master's in Engineering from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Delhi respectively. He served in various capacities starting as collector of Adilabad and Guntur districts in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, before being promoted as director of School Education. He handled the State Reorganisation affairs after the A.P. Reorganisation Act was passed by both houses of Parliament on February 20, 2014. Mr. Rao defended Telangana's cause with the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as national forums like the Southern Zonal Council, effectively. His was the known voice at these meetings for several years as the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government has entrusted total responsibility to him.
