Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to request the return of five villages, which were merged with Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Rao highlighted the need for parliamentary legislation to transfer these villages back to Telangana.
In 2014, seven mandals from Telangana’s Khammam district were merged with Andhra Pradesh to facilitate the construction of the Polavaram project. These villages serve as a crucial entry point from Bhadrachalam town into Telangana.
Both states’ assemblies are expected to pass resolutions urging the Centre to facilitate the transfer of these villages to Telangana. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu, responded positively to the request made by Minister Nageswara Rao.
Several issues requiring coordination between the two states were discussed during the meeting, as per an official statement from the Andhra Pradesh government. Minister Rao emphasized the benefits that completion of projects like roads, irrigation, and railway lines in border areas would bring to the people of both Telugu states.
Nageswara Rao had previously written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Naidu, urging the restoration of these villages to Telangana. He highlighted the historical, religious, tribal welfare, and administrative significance of these areas. Rao stressed the challenges posed by the current administrative setup, emphasizing the need for the villages to be returned to Telangana.
