Prez nod to ordinance on Polavaram project

Ignoring protests by the TRS, President Pranab Mukherjee has given his nod for an ordinance to give control of Telangana areas submerged due to the Polavaram project to the residuary Andhra Pradesh state.

The Narendra Modi government's decision to clear the ordinance on Polavaram has generated protests in Telangana with the TRS chief calling a shutdown in Telangana on Thursday. The shutdown passed off peacefully.

The Cabinet proposed the major amendment in the Polavaram project in Bhadrachalam district of Telangana region in a bid to address concerns of farmers in coastal region. The ordinance was proposed during the UPA regime in February but it could not bring it in time as model code of conduct was imposed with the announcement of election.

With the ordinance, seven mandals in Telangana will go to Seemandhra region. The TDP, which has won majority in the Assembly elections in Seemandhra region, was keen on the Polavaram ordinance and wanted it to be enacted fast.

TRS leader K Kavitha had said the party will approach the Supreme Court if the President promulgates the Ordinance.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was given a briefing by senior officials led by Home Secretary Anil Goswami about the steps being undertaken to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Officials informed him that the process is going on smoothly and Telangana will come into existence as per schedule on June 2.