Sharmila urges Andhra Pradesh MPs to raise pending bifurcation issues in Parliament

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y.S. Sharmila has urged Members of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh to raise the long-pending bifurcation assurances during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. Speaking to reporters and through social media posts, Sharmila said that the state’s elected representatives were expected to highlight the pending issues under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, but were “remaining silent” as major national discussions were taking place in both Houses.

It was stated by her that 11 years had passed since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, yet several promises made to the state remained either partially implemented or unfulfilled. She alleged that the Centre had not met key commitments relating to Special Category Status, funding for the Amaravati capital project, the Polavaram national project, and various infrastructure initiatives promised during the division of the state.

According to Sharmila, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Assurances had earlier noted that the Centre had not extended adequate support for the development of Amaravati. She referred to prior statements made in Parliament, including submissions by former Union Ministers, which acknowledged that only limited financial assistance had been released for capital development.

She alleged that the responsibility for constructing the Amaravati capital city had been placed on the state government, even though support for the capital had been assured under the Act. Sharmila claimed that the state government was taking large loans for the capital project while several components of central assistance were pending.

On the Polavaram project, she said that although the dam had been declared a national project, issues relating to cost revisions, rehabilitation, and clearances were still awaiting resolution. She noted that the current approved height of the project, as mentioned in recent Parliamentary replies, was 41.15 metres.

Sharmila also pointed to other pending commitments, including the establishment of the Kadapa Steel Plant under the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), development of the Dugarajapatnam Port, release of funds for the backward districts package, progress on the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada metro rail projects, operationalisation of the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone, and the status of the Chennai–Visakhapatnam Industrial Corridor. She said that only limited progress had been reported on most of these projects.

The APCC president stated that the value of the division assurances was significant for Andhra Pradesh and described them as “a cheque that had not been encashed.” She appealed to the 25 Lok Sabha MPs and 11 Rajya Sabha MPs from Andhra Pradesh to speak in Parliament on the pending issues and to represent the state’s concerns in a united manner, irrespective of party affiliation.

She said that the people of Andhra Pradesh expected their representatives to prioritise the state’s welfare and added that public accountability was essential when the Parliament was in session. Sharmila reiterated that the Congress Party would continue to raise the issue of bifurcation promises until they were addressed by the Centre.