Latest news with #APReorganisationAct
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
President Murmu to attend first convocation of Central Tribal University: VC
VIZIANAGARAM The Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, South India's first of its kind, is set to hold its first convocation on June 10, 2025 at the Convention Centre of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam. President of India Droupadi Murmu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and other dignitaries will be attending the convocation. A total of 197 students from five batches will receive their degrees during the ceremony. Although the university is located in Vizianagaram, the convocation is being held in Visakhapatnam due to security, accommodation, and other logistic concerns. The university's Vice Chancellor T.V. Kattimani recently met Ms. Draupadi in New Delhi and thanked her for accepting to be the Chief Guest. 'It will be a memorable moment for students as they receive their certificates from the President of India. This event will further enhance the reputation of the university and inspire many students to pursue higher education at our institution,' said Dr. Kattimani while speaking to The Hindu. Established in 2019 under the AP Reorganisation Act, the university currently operates from the old AU buildings in Vizianagaram. The university's permanent campus is being readied at Chinamedapalli village in Mentada mandal of Vizianagaram district. For the academic year 2025-26, the university plans to introduce more courses and provide on-campus accommodation for students. Dr. Kattimani said: 'Both the Union and State governments have been extending full support for the speedy construction of the new campus, which will have state-of-the-art facilities. We have requested the government to sanction additional faculty positions in accordance with the proposed new courses. We hope the government will accept our proposal before the beginning of the new academic year.'
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Harish calls for all-party meet to discuss Banakacharla proj
Hyderabad: Alleging that the AP government was conspiring to take away 200 tmcft from the Godavari River through Banakacharla project and condemning the Congress and BJP for failing to protect Telangana's water rights, senior BRS leader T Harish Rao on Sunday demanded special Assembly session and an all-party meeting to discuss the serious issue. Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, he attacked both the Telangana government and the Centre, accusing them of jointly undermining the irrigation interests of Telangana. Rao expressed grave concern over what he described as a 'well-orchestrated conspiracy' to divert the Godavari river water to AP through the controversial Banakacharla project. Rao said, 'Telangana's hard-earned right of water is once again under threat, this time due to the inaction and indifference of the Congress in Telangana.' He alleged that AP was aggressively pushing forward with the Banakacharla project without securing any mandatory approvals, neither from the Apex Council, nor from the Central Water Commission, nor from environmental bodies. No consent has been taken from Telangana or other riparian States, a violation of the AP Reorganisation Act. 'This is nothing short of bulldozing established norms,' Rao said, adding that Central agencies appear to be complicit by their silence and support. He highlighted the 'hypocrisy' of AP leaders, pointing out that CM N Chandrababu Naidu was writing multiple letters to stop Telangana's own projects, including Kaleshwaram, Palamuru-Rangareddy and Bhakta Ramadasu, citing environmental and legal concerns. Naidu even moved the National Green Tribunal and raised objections with the Centre. Yet, today, the same leaders were executing a completely new Godavari project without any scrutiny. Alleging bias by the Centre, Rao said it was maintaining double standards. He pointed out that while Polavaram was granted national project status and received over Rs 80,000 crore in Central funding, Telangana's major irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram and Sitarama have been denied similar recognition. Now, the Centre is reportedly offering to fund 50 per cent of Banakacharla through grants, while allowing AP to raise the remaining via FRBM-limit exemptions, a privilege never extended to Telangana. He questioned how the Centre could offer financial assistance to a project that has zero legal approvals. 'Why is the BJP treating Telangana like a stepchild?' Is there no value for efforts Telangana made to build sustainable irrigation?' he asked. Rao called for a special Assembly session to pass a unanimous resolution opposing the project, and approaching the Supreme Court for a stay.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish flays Congress, BJP silence on AP's Banakacharla project
BRS leader Harish Rao said that the Congress Government has failed in protecting its share of river water, as Andhra Pradesh has taken up Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project without any approvals to divert 200 tmc ft of Godavari water to the Krishna and Penna basins, causing a permanent loss and injustice to Telangana. 'Even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government at the Centre is going all out to help AP in violation of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act and the AP Reorganisation Act, while MPs from the State belonging to BJP and Congress are silent about the 'water theft'. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's silence is a 'gurudakshina' to his political guru, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu,' Mr. Harish Rao alleged at a press conference here on Sunday. He dismissed Mr. Naidu's argument of surplus water available, and sought to know why he had opposed water allocation to Kaleshwaram and Sita Rama projects, if there was surplus water and wrote to the Centre in 2018 against Telangana projects. It was a different matter that the Centre (its agencies such as CWC and others) had given approvals to the projects stating that the two projects were not new and continuation of the old ones – Kaleshwaram in place of Pranahita-Chevella, Bhakta Ramadasu to give water to the tail-end areas of Sriramsagar and Sita Rama in place of Indira Sagar and Rajiv Sagar, he explained. Mr. Harish Rao said water was available downstream as Telangana was not utilising its share of 959 tmc ft allocated to Telangana by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal. He demanded that the State Government convene a special session of the Assembly, adopt a resolution against the illegal project and also move the Supreme Court. He criticised the Chief Minister for not raising the issue at the NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday. He faulted the two Union Ministers from the State for their silence as the Centre was doing a 'grave injustice' to Telangana by not allocating even the share ensured by the Bachawat Tribunal in lieu of Godavari water diversion to Krishna Delta through Polavaram and other lift irrigation projects.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CM Naidu urges Centre to notify Amaravati as the capital
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met several Union Ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and others in New Delhi on Friday (May 23, 2025). Addressing a press conference on his interactions with the Union Ministers, Mr. Naidu said that the combined Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated 10 years ago. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Central government should notify Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, he said. 'The Bifurcation Act mandates the creation of a new capital for the State. In 2014, the State government declared Amaravati as the capital and began its construction. However, due to the previous government's hasty decisions, the idea of three capitals led to uncertainty about people's future. In this context, I requested an amendment to the law recognising Amaravati as the capital, as per the wishes of the local farmers,' the Chief Minister said.. 'From 2019 to 2024, Andhra Pradesh faced severe destruction. It will take 10 years to bring the State back on track from the damage caused by the YSRCP. We promised in the elections that we will rebuild the State once our government comes to power. We are making all efforts accordingly. The previous government left unpaid bills amounting to ₹1.20 lakh crore. This year, the State received a record level of investments,' he said. Stating that he discussed the Polavaram–Banakacharla Project with Jal Sakthi Minister C.R. Patil and Ms. Sitharaman, Mr. Naidu said that the Polavaram–Banakacharla Project would cost around ₹80,000 crore. It would divert 200 tmcft of water. The project would not cause any inconvenience to other States, as it would divert water that would otherwise flow into the sea. The Centre was requested to prevail upon the others as Andhra Pradesh was taking up an intra-State project to make use of the 200 tmcft of water which flows into the sea every year. There shouldn't be any problem, as it was not an interstate project. Ms. Sitharaman was requested to do the needful and release funds for taking up the project. Once the Centre approves, the government would begin the project work, he said, adding it would be a game-changer for Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari Banakacherla project aims at diverting surplus water from the Godavari to water-scarce areas in south-central Andhra Pradesh. It would use lift irrigation and tunnels to connect the regions in three phases. A detailed financing plan had been proposed, building on earlier discussions with the Finance Ministry. The project would benefit millions in drought-hit areas and serve as a model for river-linking across India. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected by June 2025. It will use lift irrigation and tunnels to connect the regions in three phases. Mr. Naidu also shared copies of the proposal with Mr. Patil, requesting coordination between departments to fast-track the project. Under the Suryaghar scheme, Andhra Pradesh expressed its desire to provide electricity to 35 lakh households. The State plans to supply solar electricity to 10,000 households in each constituency. 'We requested the Centre to support the implementation of this scheme,' Mr. Naidu said. He urged the Centre to expedite approvals for the proposal submitted by APDISCOMs to MNRE in January 2025, under which 20 lakh SC/ST households would receive free rooftop solar systems, and BC households will receive a ₹10,000/kWp subsidy for up to 2kWp installations. The state's Clean Energy Policy 2024–29 targeted an additional 72.6 GW of RE, including 40 GWp solar, and emphasises inclusive access and affordability. The proposed utility-led rooftop model will reduce AP's power purchase costs, empower vulnerable communities, and drive job creation. The government introduced the AP Integrated Clean Energy Policy, under which the State aims to produce 72 GW of green energy. 'We requested Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to sanction a Green Energy Corridor worth ₹28,346 crore, to which he responded positively,' Mr. Naidu said. Mr. Naidu expressed confidence that with the Centre's support, Andhra Pradesh could set a national benchmark in inclusive renewable energy adoption.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AP amends non-local quota rules; TS students to be affected
Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh government has amended its admission policy to higher education and other courses, reserving the 15% non-local quota seats exclusively for students from Andhra Pradesh starting from the 2025–26 academic year. These seats, previously open to candidates from Telangana and other states, will no longer be accessible to non-AP now, candidates from Telangana and other states were eligible to compete for these non-local seats. However, going forward, they will no longer be permitted to do so. This decision is part of a policy shift following the completion of 10 years since the bifurcation of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.A few months ago, the Telangana government restricted access for students from Andhra Pradesh to the 15% quota seats in its universities. Local status in Andhra Pradesh will be determined based on the region the student belongs to—either Andhra University or Sri Venkateswara the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, bifurcated the state into Telangana and (residuary) Andhra Pradesh, Section 95 of this Act provided for the continuation of the then-existing admission quotas in higher and technical education institutions for 10 years post-bifurcation, under Article 371-D of the Constitution. This 10-year period ended in June to protect the interests of students from Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education recommended taking appropriate measures in the admission a result, the government decided to amend the existing admission rules to avoid legal complications, responding to representations from parents and students. The primary amendment is the introduction of region-wise reservation of seats, with 85% of the seats in each course now reserved for local candidates of Andhra Pradesh, while the remaining 15% are eligibility criteria for the 15% unreserved seats in Andhra Pradesh higher education admissions appear to be aimed at balancing local preferences with broader inclusivity. For example, the rules recognise candidates with local ties to both university areas (Andhra University and Sri Venkateswara University) and those with long-term residency in the state. Furthermore, they include children and spouses of state/central government AU area includes the erstwhile undivided districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam. The SVU area includes the erstwhile combined districts of Anantapur, Kurnool, Chittoor, Kadapa, and state-wide universities and institutions such as Dr YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University, Kadapa, 85% of the seats are reserved for local candidates from the AU and SVU regions in a ratio of 65.62% and 34.38%, respectively. The remaining 15% follow the same unreserved seat criteria.
