Date:22/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/22/stories/2008022255460700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

MP seeks panel on development issues

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Congress MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar has said that if the Centre drops the idea to constitute the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), it should go for a separate commission that would elicit the opinion on various issues from a cross section of society.

In an informal talk with reporters in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Arun Kumar said this commission should interact with everyone, including the experts in various fields, and study the development of the State.

He wondered why some leaders were opposing the SRC and referred to the recommendations of the first SRC that was against the merger of Telangana and Vidarbha with Andhra and Maharashtra, respectively.

Budgetary spending

Mr. Arun Kumar pointed out that the budgetary spending from 1972 to this day would reveal that 50 per cent of the State budget had been spent in the Telangana region.

He wondered that when so much was spent for the region, why it did not develop and who were responsible for this.