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Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020

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Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020
Andhra Pradesh Legislature
  • A Bill to provide for decentralisation of governance and inclusive development of all the regions of the state of andhra pradesh and for providing for establishments of zonal planning and development boards apart from the provisions of the seats of governance in different regions of the state and for matters ancillary thereto.
CitationBill No. 2 of 2020
Considered byAndhra Pradesh Legislature
Passed byAndhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Passed21 January 2020 (2020-01-21)
Passed byAndhra Pradesh Legislative Council
Passed16 July 2020 (2020-07-16)[1]
Assented toJuly 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)[2]
Signed byBiswabhusan Harichandan
SignedJuly 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)
EffectiveJuly 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)[2]
Legislative history
First chamber: Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Introduced byBuggana Rajendranath
Minister for Finance, Planning and Legislative Affairs
Introduced20 January 2020; 4 years ago (2020-01-20)
First reading20 January 2020 (2020-01-20)
Second reading21 January 2020 (2020-01-21)
Amends
Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
Status: In force

The Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020 is an act of Andhra Pradesh Legislature aimed at the decentralisation of governance in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[3] The bill was proposed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to establish three capitals at different places in the state namely Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Kurnool, which will serve as executive, legislative and judicial capitals respectively.[4]

The Act was mainly proposed to balance the Governance in all the parts of the state taking into consideration the aspirations of the people of all the regions of the state.[5] The act was mostly derived from the principles of Siva Rama Krishnan Committee appointed by the Indian Government; G.N. Rao committee and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) committee appointed by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

The bill received the Governor's assent on 31 July 2020. Government of Andhra Pradesh issued gazette notification on the same day, thus becoming an Act.[2]

Background

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Andhra State

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See also: Andhra movement

On August 15, 1947, India became independent country from British rule. Ramaswamy Reddiyar was the first Chief Minister of Madras state consisting Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra regions. Madras State was succeeded from Madras Presidency on January 26, 1950. However, the Telugu-speaking people were unhappy with the decision, as Tamil-speaking people dominated the entire statehood. Thus they called for Andhra movement and demanded for new state.[6] Potti Sri Ramulu one of the strong activists, took indefinite hunger strike from October 19, 1952, and demanded for a separate Andhra state from the Madras state for the Telugu speaking people.[7] On 15 December 1952, Sri ramulu died in the fasting camp after commencing his fasting about 58 days.[8] As the news of his death broke, massive violence and protests spread all over the southern states of India. As a result of his sacrifice, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru bifurcated Madras state to the new Andhra state consisting eleven districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on October 1, 1953, with Kurnool as its temporary capital of Andhra state and the Madras city as permanent capital of Madras state.[9] The High court of the Andhra state was established in Guntur on basis of Sribagh Pact.[10]

Sri Bagh Pact of 1937

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Main article: Sribagh Pact

The Rayalaseema people raised concerns about several issues based on education, development and discrimination. Several controversies had made inequality difficulties and regional imbalance fears among people of rayalaseema. In November 1937, several leaders of Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra had discussed on several issues and made an agreement pact.[11][12]

On discussing issues regarding to capital, and legislature the following terms was agreed:

The location of the University, the Headquarters and the High Court shall be in different regions. While the University may continue to be where it is, the High Court and Metropolis are to be located in suitable places in the Coastal districts and Rayalaseema and the choice shall be given to Rayalaseema.[13]

States Reorganisation Act, 1956

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Main article: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

On 1956, the Parliament of India introduced an act which was a major reform of the boundaries of Indian states and territories, organising them along linguistic lines. Following the effects of changes made to Constitution of India, the newly Combined Andhra Pradesh was formed by the merger of Hyderabad state along with Andhra state for Telugu speaking people's demand.

United Andhra Pradesh State

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See also: Visalandhra movement

However, Telugu-speaking people demanded for their long-cherished Visalandhra statehood formation. The States Reorganisation Commission headed by Syed Fazal Ali heard the views of different people and organizations of both states. Based on the commission's conclusions, the Government of India preferred Visalandhra and enlarged the state by including nine Telugu speaking districts of Hyderabad state to eleven districts of Andhra state to form Andhra Pradesh with 20 districts.[14] The Andhra Pradesh state was formed by the merger of Hyderabad state and Andhra state with its new capital Hyderabad on basis of Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956.[15] The Telangana leaders proposed that the High court of the Andhra Pradesh state should be located in Hyderabad and a bench should be constituted in Guntur. But the Andhra leaders rejected it by stating that high court can be established in hyderabad and there was no need for a bench in Guntur district.[16]

New Andhra Pradesh State

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During 1969 to 1973, several movements like Telangana movement and 1972 Jai Andhra movement took place for bifurcation of the state. Protests started with the hunger strike of a student from Khammam district for the implementation of safe-guards promised during the creation of Andhra Pradesh.[17] The movement slowly manifested into a demand for a separate statehood.[18] Amid, the people of Telangana had alleged violations of Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 led to the 1969 Telangana movement and cited as one of the main reasons for the demands of separate statehood for Telangana region.[19] On June 2, 2014 United Andhra Pradesh has bifurcated into Telangana consisting of 10 districts, and residuary Andhra Pradesh consisting 13 districts with Hyderabad as permanent capital for Telangana state.[20][21]

AP Reorganisation Act, 2014

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The Parliament of India implemented an act that defined the boundaries of the two states, and laid out the status of Hyderabad as the permanent capital of Telangana state and temporary capital of the Andhra Pradesh state for 10 years. It had also mentioned that a new capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh will be chosen by the committee it appointed known as "Siva Rama Krishnan Committee" headed by a renowned retired IAS Officer, K.C. Siva Rama Krishnan.

Capital and Criticism

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Siva Rama Krishnan Committee[22]

The committee headed by K. C. Siva Rama Krishnan and its experts members toured all of the state and had submitted their report. The report suggested to go for a decentralised development i.e., by transferring the powers of the Government to several parts of the state, using the resources of the state to the fullest and heavily warned not to go for a "honeypot" model of establishing each and every resource in and around a single town or a city. It had even objected the model of Hyderabad which the state had earlier implemented by establishing every government power in and around Hyderabad. The committee strongly objected choosing any capital between Vijayawada and Guntur (as the members of Telugu Desam Party started to say they might establish a capital around Vijayawada and Guntur even prior to the committee report was submitted) feeling that might disturb the agricultural delta lands of Krishna River. The committee instead suggested for going on an all-round based development without disturbing the environmental concerns. It had also mentioned to use less land area for the capital usage and clearly mentioned the area needed for the capital functions in its report. The committee submitted the report on August 27, 2014.

Amaravati chosen as the capital[23]

However the then Government of Andhra Pradesh led by Chandrababu Naidu as the Chief Minister was not satisfied with the report of Siva Rama Krishnan Committee. Instead a new committee was appointed under the then Municipal Minister of the Government, P. Narayana and eventually chose Amaravati of Guntur district as the capital against to the suggestions made by the Indian government appointed Siva Rama Krishnan Committee. The then government led by Chandrababu Naidu as the Chief Minister had gone ahead for constructing a Mega Greenfield city without even considering the suggestions made by the Siva Rama Krishnan committee to divide the governance powers. An area of around 33000 acres was brought under Land pooling scheme for the capital just what the Siva Rama Krishnan committee warned not to do.

Criticism in choosing Amaravati as a "Honey-pot" capital[23]

Heavy criticism was met for not considering the suggestions made by the Indian government appointed Siva Rama Krishnan Committee to transfer the powers of the government to various parts of the state. However the then government led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had gone ahead with capital being proposed at Amaravati for which the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 April 2015.

Criticism for not choosing Visakhapatnam as the capital

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The government was criticized for not choosing the already established and largest city of Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam which had all the infrastructure and the government lands needed to house the capital. Instead the government opted for land pooling 33000 acres of agricultural land. The then government had not given its opinion for choosing a new greenfield mega city which needed huge financial backing continuously which was also criticized.[24][25][26]

Change of Power in the government in 2019

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YSR Congress Party[27]

For various reasons, Telugu Desam Party headed by Chandrababu Naidu lost in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. The YSR Congress Party won the elections and Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 2019. The Telugu Desam Party lost in all the assembly constituencies of the capital region in 2019 Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly Elections to much surprise.

Committees for the new capital(s)

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The Government headed by the Chief Minister Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy felt that the previous state government led by Chandrababu Naidu didn't take Siva Rama Krishnan committee into consideration about choosing the capital and also came to an opinion that constructing a mega greenfield city would eventually increase the burden on the government and also wouldn't cater to the rest of the state's aspirations which might take years of time to get a shape with huge financial backing from the government continuously.[28] This would also interfere with the government's other financial schemes and development related works.[25] So the government led by the Chief Minister Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy appointed two new experts committees; G. N. Rao Committee, headed by a renowned retired IAS Officer G.N.Rao and Boston Consulting Group Committee to give a report on a new capital location and development of the state on September 19, 2019.

G. N. Rao Committee and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Committee

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Both the experts committees unanimously suggested for a decentralised development by transferring the powers of governance to the various parts of the state by choosing Visakhapatnam as executive, Amaravati as Legislative and Kurnool as Judicial Capitals and to fully use the resources and include the regions with faster pace development by establishing regional development boards. G. N. Rao committee submitted its report on December 20, 2019. Boston Consulting Group submitted its report on January 3, 2020.[29][30]

High Power Committee

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A high power committee was appointed by the government which included the ministers of the government to study the two committees; B.N. Rao committee and Boston Consulting Group Committee and to submit a final report discussing both committees. The same was submitted on January 17, 2020.[31]

Bill prepared

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After following through the report of the high power committee and two appointed committees; BN Rao Committee and Boston Consulting Group Committee, the cabinet of the Government of Andhra Pradesh had gone ahead with the reports of the committees and prepared a bill to make Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the Judicial Capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh which was approved by the cabinet on January 20, 2020. The bill was then introduced and passed on the same day in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[32]

The Bill

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The Bill is envisaged to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial Capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Legislative timeline of the Bill

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The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party government introduced the bill on cabinet to decentralise the governance in the state of 13 districts.[34] Later, the bill was introduced in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[35][36] The bill was passed on the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly by having majority of the seats after 17 MLA's of the Telugu Desam Party were suspended due to the continuous obstruction. Although the bill was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the lower house of Andhra Pradesh Legislature, it was stalled in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council by the Telugu Desam Party which had majority in the legislative council.[37][38] However, after careful and proper verification, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh gave his assent to the bill on July 31, 2020, and the bill became an act.[39]

Concerns

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Reactions

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After the bill got passed on January 20, 2020, in the state legislative assembly, there was a celebration in the ruling party camp, while the decision caused consternation among others including the farmers of Amaravati who had given about 34,000 acres of their land for the capital. The ruling YSR Congress Party claimed that the move was aimed at decentralisation, but critics pointed out that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government made no difference between the distribution of capital functions and the decentralisation of development initiatives. The decision was also widely seen as essentially 'making capital out of political rivalry[40]'.

Protests

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Main article: 2019-20 Amaravati protests

The idea of three capitals by the Chief minister Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy caused widespread demonstrations by the farmers of Krishna and Guntur districts.[41][42] The passage of the bill triggered different types of protests and criticisms against the government. In the capital region of the state, farmers are against the theory of three capitals[43] They stated that, the bill is against agreements to the farmers who gave 33,000 acres of agricultural lands to the government. After the bill was passed on 21 January 2020 by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, violent protests erupted in Amaravati.[44][45]

References

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  1. ^ Illyas, Md (1 August 2020). "Andhra Pradesh Governor approves bill to establish three capitals for truncated state". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Andhra Governor gives nod to CM Jagan Mohan Reddy's three-capital plan". Livemint. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Assembly passes bill to establish three capitals". Akash Vani. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  4. ^ "YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government introduces bill in Andhra Pradesh Assembly to give shape to plan of having 3 state capitals". First Post. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. ^ Varma, P. Sujatha (16 June 2020). "Three capitals for decentralised administration: A.P. Governor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Post-Independence Era". Government of Andhra Pradesh. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Potti Sriramulu: Little-Known Freedom Fighter Who Sacrificed His Life for Andhra!". The Better India.
  8. ^ "Potti Sriramulu, The Martyr Who Breathed Life Into Andhra". Sakshi. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  9. ^ "The Fight for Madras". The Hindu. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Andhra Pradesh: High court returns 'home' to Guntur after 62 years". The Times of India. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Appendix /17" (PDF). Shodhganga. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Views on states Reorganisation" (PDF). Vishalandhra. 16 July 1955. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Appencies to the Reports of Committee for Consultations on the situation of Andhra Pradesh" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs.
  14. ^ "Emergence of Andhra Pradesh". Government of Andhra Pradesh. 28 February 1956. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  15. ^ "New State to be Called Hyderabad, for Telugus". Indian Express. 21 February 1956. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956". Telangana Today. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Telangana formation day: The birth of a movement". Buzzy. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  18. ^ "The story of India's 29th State — Telangana". The Hindu. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  19. ^ "First Telangana Movement". Government of Telangana.
  20. ^ "Union Cabinet approves Telangana state creation". Deccan Herald. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Telangana Bill passed in Lok Sabha by voice vote amidst blackout, Kiran Reddy ready to quit". India Today. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  22. ^ "ExpertCommittee_CapitalAP_Final" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2017.
  23. ^ a b Sivaramakrishnan, K. C. (20 April 2015). "Eye on capital, loss in vision". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  24. ^ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (22 December 2019). "Three Capital idea in Andhra Pradesh is rooted in history". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Why Vizag and not Amaravati: Jagan explains in detail, cites lack of finances". The News Minute. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Amaravati is unviable; Vizag will compete with Hyderabad in 10 years: Andhra CM". 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020.
  27. ^ Reddem, Appaji (8 June 2019). "Jagan Mohan Reddy assumes charge as Andhra Pradesh CM". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Amaravati is unviable; Vizag will compete with Hyderabad in 10 years: Andhra CM". mint. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  29. ^ Staff Reporter (21 December 2019). "G.N. Rao panel recommends 'three capitals' for State". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  30. ^ Staff Reporter (22 December 2019). "Boston Consulting Group roped in to study capital options". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  31. ^ Rao, Gvr Subba (29 December 2019). "Now, a 16-member High Power Committee to study G.N. Rao Committee and BCG reports on A.P. Capital shifting". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  32. ^ Raghavendra, V. (20 January 2020). "A.P. Cabinet gives its nod to the contentious three-capitals proposal". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Bill_2" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Andhra Pradesh cabinet introduced bill in assembly, clears proposal for three state capitals". TrueScoop. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Amid Statewide Protests, Andhra Pradesh Govt Tables Bill on 3 Capitals at State Assembly". News18. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Amid the massive statewide protests, Andhra Pradesh government introduces "three-capitals" bill in assembly". HW News Network. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  37. ^ "TDP stalls administrative decentralisation Bill in council". The Hindu. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Pandemonium breaks out in Andhra Pradesh council over bills on 3 capitals". The Times of India. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  39. ^ Staff Reporter (31 July 2020). "A.P. Governor clears three capital, CRDA repeal Bills". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Making capital out of political rivalry". InsightsIAS. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  41. ^ "Farmers in Amaravati protest against AP CM Jagan's idea of 3 capitals". Business Standard. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  42. ^ "Jagan's three capitals idea triggers protests in Amaravati". The Hindu. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  43. ^ "Andhra Pradesh: Protests continue in Amaravati over 3 capital move". India TV. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  44. ^ "అమరావతి పరిరక్షణ సమితి ర్యాలీ ప్రారంభం" (in Telugu). Eenadu. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  45. ^ "TDP stages protest over three capitals issue". The Hindu. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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