It does not make economic sense to divide a State especially if the new formations are going to be struggling and turn a burden on the Exchequer. If the bifurcation is inevitable then the process should be taken up only after focusing on the development of all regions, a forum for regional economic development – Gravity 2.0 – suggested in a memorandum sent to the Group of Ministers set up by the Centre on formation of Telangana State.
Decentralisation
There is a crying need for decentralised development of the State and this issue has to be addressed on priority before the political process of bifurcation is taken up.
There is a need not only to promote industrial development in all regions but also promote political development by strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions, the city-based forum of entrepreneurs and intellectuals say. One of the major catalysts for growth of the region, especially the Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry-Vijayawada region, is by investing in development of inland waterways and coastal shipping.
This would not only spur associated industries but also create an ecosystem for development of the region, founder member of Gravity 2.0 Gopi Kumar Bulusu has suggested in the memorandum.
Focus on investment
The government should focus on investing in creating a 28 nm-20 nm semiconductor fab city which would take India into the next level of industrialisation rather than working overtime on a political decision that is a lose-lose proposition for all involved.
New States
“The bifurcation of the State at present is like performing a heart surgery on a weak patient,” he has written in his memorandum. He has said the State suffered huge loss during the past five to six years due to the uncertainty and turmoil over the Telanaga issue and it slipped to the fifth or sixth position in the country. “New states can be created on the basis of performance. Performance should be rewarded, not non-performance. If the State of Telangana is formed, the living conditions and standards of the public in the new State should be better than the old one,” he says in the memorandum suggesting that the decision on bifurcation taken by the UPA governmetn be kept in abeyance.
