Hyderabad-Karnataka bill confers on Governor near-absolute powers

The proposed Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2012, which will accord special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, will confer on the Governor near-absolute powers over six northern districts of the region, barring law and order and general administration.

Once the bill is passed in both houses of Parliament, the President of India will promulgate an order conferring  special powers on the Governor to set up Hyderabad-Karnataka Development Board and oversee the implementation of reservation in education and employment and execution of development works in the  backward districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Bellary, Raichur, Koppal and Yadgir.

The Governor, who will appoint the board members, will have the option to head the body or appoint somebody else as the chairman for a term of two or three years, sources in the Union Home Ministry told Deccan Herald.

The board will comprise 10 to 12 members, including experts, divisional commissioner, senior official from state planning board and an additional secretary level official named by Karnataka Government. Representation will also be given to elected members of the Legislative Assembly (one or two) or urban local bodies or zilla panchayats.

The board will have power to plan and implement all development works, including centrally aided schemes. Some of the major schemes which will be executed by the body are irrigation, health, education including technical, road improvement, rural electrification, land development, soil conservation and construction of student hostels for economically weaker sections.