TD promises Bhadradri division

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 16, 2014: Inclusion of the Bhadhrachalam division into Andhra Pradesh, have become a part of TD’s manifesto for this region.  This may irk party cadre in Telangana region and play a spoilsport for the poll chances of the regional party on the other side of the border.

Inclusion of certain villages coming under Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions of Telangana’s Khammam district, that face submergence in the wake of construction of Polavaram multipurpose project, has become a bone of contention during the state bifurcation.

Telangana leaders cutting across party lines opposed such move and TRS chief KCR many a times raked up the issue. Though the union cabinet proposed certain amendments to the AP Reorganisation Bill on transferring these villages to Seemandhra region to facilitate the construction of multipurpose project, the proposal was dropped later, probably coming under pressure from the Congress Telangana leaders.

The union government has also failed to bring in any ordinance in this regard. TD party manifesto posters of Andhra Pradesh have clearly promised early completion of Polavaram project along with inclusion of Bhadhrachalam division into Andhra Pradesh, if voted to power.  

Interestingly the party’s official manifesto for Andhra Pradesh has only a mention on early completion of Polvaram project but nothing about inclusion of  these villages into Seemandhra. However, the issue figures prominently in the posters that are seen everywhere in Vizag.

Party posters have highlighted 5 issues including inclusion of Bhadhrachalam division into AP. Other issues found place in posters are IT corridor in Vizag, international airports at Vizag, Vijayawada and Tirupaty, 15,000 mw of power generation, IITs, IIMs, central universities two each in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions. 

As per the estimates of irrigation experts and the state government Polavaram project submerges 276 villages with an average population  of   642 per village. Of the 276 villages 204 are in the present Khammam district of Telangana.  Out of these 204 villages 121 are in Bhadrachalam Revenue Division and the remaining in Palvancha division.  Bhadhrachalam revenue division was part of East Godavari district in Seemandhra region until 1959.

Union cabinet gave a nod to transfer certain villages excluding the Bhadrachlama town that houses famous lord Rama temple to Seemandhra but an ordinance in this regard is awaited. Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and D Purandeswari who recently resigned from the union cabinet and the Congress party also found fault with the union government for not bringing in ordinance for the transfer of these villages into the new AP.