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     Iamim Side Hero Username: Iamim Post Number: 2390 Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 118.94.226.67 Rating: N/A |
Hong Kong model for Hyderabad? Kingshuk Nag, TNN 20 December 2009, 04:07am IST HYDERABAD: The impasse continues with no signs of any way out. Lagadapati Rajagopal and others are still on fast for a United Andhra Pradesh, Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) pooh-poohs the United Andhra movement warning that there will be a bloodbath if the Telangana process is derailed. Both the sides show no signs of blinking even as the administration has come to a grinding halt. Hyderabad is showing signs of being severely impacted with potential investors looking at alternatives. The million dollar question then, is there no mutually acceptable solution that could lead a way out of this conundrum? If one follows the voices on the debate clearly, it will be apparent that the fight is centred around the fate of Hyderabad. âHyderabad was just a piece of land had it not been for migrants who came here and built the infrastructure. This is not merely buildings but also institutions like colleges, hospitals and industries that make a city great,â is the contention of the United Andhra protagonists. But the other side argues that Hyderabad was always big - the fifth largest city in 1956 when Andhra Pradesh came into being and is even now the fifth largest city. âSo the growth is commensurate with other cities in the country, no more than elsewhere in urban India. It was always part of Telangana and even now it should be,â say Telangana protagonists. In the midst of this face off, the indications from New Delhi are that the decision to create Telangana is final. âIt is a matter of time. Once the ongoing situation cools down, the process will start. It would take a few years to complete,â a high-level source indicated. It also seems that the earlier plan was that Hyderabad would go with Telangana, but now the bosses are wondering whether Hyderabad could be made a Union Territory (UT). The subject has been broached with Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) representatives who have strongly opposed the idea. âHyderabad is the heart of Telangana. There is no question of agreeing to UT status for the city,â assert TRS representatives. On the other hand, privately, many of those seeking a UT status for Telangana, confess that their main concern is securing investments in Hyderabad and ensuring the continuance of Brand Hyderabad. âIt is not an issue of where Hyderabad will go. The real issue is of maintaining conditions for the continued prosperity of Hyderabad,â says a corporate representative. China was faced with a similar problem when Hong Kong was ceded back to them by Britain in 1997. However in the 155 years that Hong Kong had been in British control, it had become a major trading hub transacting business of billions of pounds. Though China wanted Hong Kong, it did not want to damage Brand Hong Kong. Thus came the concept of âone country, two systems.â Hong Kong became a special administrative region (SAR) of China, where different laws would apply. In the same fashion, Hyderabad could become a special administrative region (SAR) of Telangana where there is a different dispensation. For example there could be an autonmous elected city government of Hyderabad. This government headed by a principal minister could be responsible to a city assembly. But this city government would have limited powers granted to it by a constitutional amendment. For instance, the powers could relate to land use within Hyderabad, powers for local taxation like land registration fees and maintenance of law and order. A part of the revenues collected will be kept by the city government and the rest will go to the state government. The fears of investors and others will be allayed by the establishment of an independent city government. This will protect Brand Hyderabad, a prospect that would please Telangana protagonists considering that Hyderabad is their main asset. |
