Objects to meeting procedures & omissions
PNS|Hyderabad
Telangana has raised strong objections to the draft minutes of the 17th meeting of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), stating that the circulated version does not truly reflect the deliberations and decisions of the meeting held on April 7.
In its official communication dated May 5, Engineer-in-Chief (General) G. Anil Kumar pointed out serious discrepancies and requested rectification.
In particular, Telangana objected to the reference in the preamble of the draft minutes, which stated that the Technical Member from Telangana had intercepted the proceedings and started his presentation without permission.
Telangana clarified that the Technical Member had duly sought the Chair’s permission to present certain concerns regarding the manner in which the meeting was convened. This, Telangana stressed, was done as a prelude to the approved agenda items and not in defiance of the Chair.
Telangana also noted that several crucial points raised through this presentation were completely left out of the minutes.
They are: Objection to how the GRMB meeting was convened unilaterally without taking consent from member states about its date and time. Telangana said such decisions must be made only after consultation with state members to avoid frequent rescheduling.
The demand that any important information or VIP reference received by GRMB related to any State must be shared immediately with the other State. Telangana pointed out that as per the AP Reorganisation Act, the Board comprises representatives of both States, and all such matters should be brought to their notice without delay.
A serious complaint raised by GRMB employees about the unruly and hostile behaviour of the Member Secretary (MS) towards them and the belittling of State staff deputed to the Board. Telangana said this issue had been flagged during a meeting chaired by JS (RD&PP) on February 10, 2025, but no action had been taken.
Telangana demanded the formation of a 3-member fact-finding committee with representatives from both States and the KRMB to investigate and report within a month.
Telangana also proposed amendments to the recruitment rules for the deputation of staff to the Board. It argued that in the post-bifurcation scenario, it is difficult for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to depute the required number of staff. Hence, States should be allowed to nominate suitable officers, and unless objected to by the other State, such deputation should be accepted as normal.
Telangana also pointed out that the Central officers were being posted directly in the Board without similar procedures.
In addition to these concerns, Telangana reiterated at the end of the meeting that a three-member committee should be formed immediately to resolve pending issues.
The proposed Terms of Reference (ToR) was handed over to the Chairman and all Board Members with the permission of the Chair. Telangana also requested that its presentation and the ToR be shared officially with all members through mail.
On another point regarding the sharing of important correspondences, Telangana reiterated that the concept note sent by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister through the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti should have been shared with all members. However, the draft minutes merely recorded that the discretion in such matters rests with the Chairman, which Telangana contested.
The state requested that all the above concerns be recorded in full and that the preamble to the minutes be accordingly modified.
