The State government has made a strong pitch with the Centre for allotment of properties/buildings that are given to Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation as a majority of them are presently not in use and are in a dilapidated state.
The State government has utilised the meeting convened by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by former Minister P. Chidambaram for presenting its case seeking possession of the buildings, including those in the Secretariat complex that are under the possession of the neighbouring State. The issue was highlighted during the presentation on the status of implementation of the assurances given in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 made by the delegation led by Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi to the standing committee.
The presentation was necessitated as a major portion of the buildings handed over to AP in the Secretariat with built up area of 5.31 lakh sq.ft spread over 15.21 acre has been lying idle for several months now. Of the 10 blocks in the 25.5 acre area, five were allotted to AP and four to Telangana while a decision on the G Block was kept pending as the issue was currently being adjudicated by the court.
There were huge vacancies in respect of the quarters allotted to officers of AP in Hyderabad, declared as the joint capital for 10 years, under deemed pool system in different areas like Banjara Hills, Kundan Bagh, Punjagutta, Errum Manzil, Patigadda, Saifabad, Madannapet, Kaladera and Malakpet areas. Of the total 589 quarters that went to AP under the deemed pool system, 368 were lying vacant as the officers opted for AP post bifurcation and moved over to Vijayawada.
Officials said though the State wanted a review of the deemed pool system delegating allotment powers to Telangana consequent on the vacation of these properties by AP government, the AP government insisted that the deemed pool system would continue. As a result, the unoccupied/vacated government buildings/quarters were battered and dilapidated due to lack of maintenance. Wild plants were growing on their premises and seepage was reported from drainage and drinking water pipelines in these localities causing inconvenience to neighbours.
Electricity and water bills of these properties were pending since long time but the Estate Officer of Telangana could not take any action as they were in the possession of the neighbouring State. The delegation explained the condition of these properties and lamented that AP was taking advantage of the provisions of the Act rendering the valuable infrastructure useless. Mr. Chidambaram, according to officials, was firm that the Act mandated that the properties of the Schedule IX and X institutions should “only be shared” and rights on them were vested with Telangana on the basis of their location in the State.
“These properties can only be shared and cannot be physically taken away,” Mr. Chidambaram was quoted as saying. The committee reportedly assured the State delegation that it would thoroughly examine the issue and make recommendations enabling the efficient use of the infrastructure.
