 "Telangana GoM meet assures fairness")
Elaborate discussions on the issue will now be held on October 19 as Defence Minister A K Antony and Finance Minister P Chidambaram could not attend the meet, with the former indisposed and the latter out of the country.
After the meet, chaired by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the GoM had discussed "basic parameters for the creation of a separate state". He said there was no time frame to give a report. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are the other ministers on the GoM, while Minister of State for Personnel and Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanasamy, is a special invitee.
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A press statement said the GoM also discussed "the approach and methodology to be adopted by it" and the GoM "would take the opinion of all the stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations". The GoM finalised different nodal ministries and departments of the Centre for status reports to be given to the GoM on subjects in the terms of reference, the statement said.
"Information in this regard will be sought from the state government and the process will start immediately," it said.
The terms of reference for the GoM include determining the boundaries of the new state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with reference to the electoral constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies and other administrative units.
The GoM would also look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both the state governments can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years, besides taking into account the legal, financial and administrative measures that may be required for transition to a new capital of the residuary state.
It would also discuss the special needs of the backward regions and districts of both the states and recommend measures.
Issues relating to law and order, safety and security of all residents and ensuring peace and harmony in all regions and districts consequent to the formation of Telangana and the residuary state would be discussed.
Long-term internal security implications arising out of the move and making suitable recommendations are also part of the terms of reference. It would also look into the sharing of river water, irrigation resources and other natural resources (specially coal, water, oil and gas) between the two.