The conferred IAS officers of the State government from Telangana have provided a new twist to the redistribution of the cadre in the backdrop of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
They have represented to Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty to retain them in Telangana as they are more or less equal to their counterparts from Seemandhra.
This category of bureaucrats are in the ratio of 44:49, representing Telangana and Seemandhra respectively.
Their reservations about working in Seemandhra stem basically from the likely opposition from the local staff because they belonged to a different region. However, the guidelines prescribed by the report of the Agrawal committee that went into the issue are fully loaded against them. They stipulated that the distribution would be on the basis of roster points which the officers oppose.
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The IPS officers are busy not only on aspects relating to police in bifurcation of the State but making security arrangements for elections as filing of nominations for the initial phase on April 30 picked up.
The State has sought 142 companies of para-military forces for April 30 polling and additional companies to guard strong rooms where electronic voting machines are deposited. In this context, the officers are coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the States that went to polls earlier than Andhra Pradesh for the movement of forces.
The redeployment of forces between the April 30 and May 7 phases of polling is also to be looked after.
All this has to be done while completing the distribution of police personnel and establishments before the appointed day – June 2.
Bureaucrats scouting for an accommodation to house the office of Chief Minister of residuary Andhra Pradesh have identified a relatively new block in the existing Secretariat.
A posse of officers from various departments, particularly security and intelligence, lost no time in inspecting the premises and discussing modifications to be made to the structure. The work is expected to start as soon as the Governor also satisfied himself by having a look.
Ironically, a heritage building which was used by former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao for his office is located right in front. A proposal to pull it down because it was in a dilapidated condition was opposed by heritage activists but the government did nothing to maintain the old block. The fate of the building now hangs in the balance.
Hyderabad metro rail project has never been short of critics over the years. The latest to join the bandwagon is a noted club in Begumpet. Making a power point presentation the other day, the club owners spoke out against the project and officials managing it, demanding a CBI probe into the entire work.
Apparently, the club owners went public only after its well-wishers in high places tried to lobby on its behalf, albeit unsuccessfully. Official grapevine has it that the club had consented to give up land for road widening. Building permissions for new constructions too were given only on the condition of voluntarily giving up land but violations took place.
