Telangana expected to see light of the day in six months

It is likely to take at least six months for the proposed new state of Telangana to see the light of the day as the move involves a number of steps, including adoption of state re-organisation bill by Parliament by a simple majority.

After the Union Cabinet's approval on Thursday for the creation of Telangana and formation of a Group of Ministers to work out modalities, a series of steps is expected to follow in coming weeks involving both the central and state governments.

The GoM will comprise ministers of home, finance, HRD, health, irrigation, power, environment and forests, railways and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and it will go into the economic issues on the creation of country's 29th state.

The ministry of finance will appoint an expert committee to recommend measures for smooth transition in terms of financial management and viability of the reorganised state.

In view of the normative economic factors that would operate in the remaining state of Andhra Pradesh consequent upon formation of Telangana state, a dedicated unit will be set up in the Planning Commission to deal exclusively with the re-organised state under the direct charge of the deputy chairman, planning commission.

The unit will ensure that, with the help of better financial management and adequate devolution of funds from the Centre, multifaceted development of the region takes place, especially with respect to core infrastructure.

The Union home ministry will prepare another note for the Union Cabinet with the re-organisation bill on the basis of the recommendations and suggestions of the GoM requesting the Union Cabinet to approve the State Re-organisation bill and to recommend to the President to refer the bill to the legislature of the state.

After the second cabinet meeting, the prime minister would recommend to the President that the draft bill be referred under Article 3 of the Constitution to the state legislature for their views to be given within 30 days.

Andhra Pradesh assembly as well as the legislative council will then consider the bill and give their views within 30 days.

The recommendations of the state legislature will be incorporated into the draft re-organisation bill and vetted by the law ministry.

A third note will be prepared with draft re-organisation bill, vetted by the law ministry and sent to the Union Cabinet for approval for introduction in Parliament.

A notice will then be given for introduction of the Reorganisation Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. After introduction in both Houses of Parliament, the Bill has to be passed by a simple majority.

After being passed by both the Houses of Parliament, the Bill will be sent to President for his assent and the new state Telangana will come into existence.