Hyderabad: The city of Nizams and Pearls is not a newly built city like Chandigarh, which is a joint capital for both Punjab and Haryana. It is not even located on the border of two states. Hyderabad has been the capital of Hyderabad state and an integral part of the newly created state of Telangana. Hyderabad has a history of over 500 years. It was the richest city under the Nizams.
It is quiet natural that the people Telangana demand that Hyderabad was and will remain the capital of their state and the Andhra Pradesh has no right over it.
The Telangana Bill passed by the Parliament has declared Hyderabad common capital of both the states for a period not exceeding 10 years. The Telangana people have reluctantly agreed to it.
The administrative control over Hyderabad will be with the Governor of Telangana till Andhra Pradesh government shifts to its own capital.
The Bill says, "the Governor shall have special responsibility to the security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the common capital of Hyderabad. The Governor's responsibility shall extend to matters such as law and order, internal security and safety of all vital installations in the discharge of these functions. This transitory provision shall cease to be have effect after such period not exceeding 10 years."
On and from the appointed day, Hyderabad in the existing State of Andhra Pradesh, shall be the common capital of the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh for such period not exceeding ten years. Hyderabad to be common capital for States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
After expiry of the period referred to in sub-section (1), Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana and there shall be a new capital for the State of Andhra Pradesh. Explanation - In this Part, the common capital includes the existing area notified as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation under the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955.
Some Constitutional experts argue that it is a flawed decision by the Parliament and it can be over turned by the Supreme Court. Because, the Constitution makes it clear that a Governor can administer a city only if it is a Union Territory. Since Hyderabad is a part of Telangana and it has an elected government, the decision to entrust the administration to governor is wrong.
The matter is already being heard by the Supreme Court and the hearing will continue in August.
Anticipating this, the Union Law minister in the previous government Kapil Sibal told both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that the next government can rectify it by amending the Constitution, if the need arises.
It leaves the question over the Constitutional status of Hyderabad open to judicial scrutiny.
Hyderabad had been a rich provincial city till the late 1990s. The Information Technology and bio-technology boom hit the city and it changed the face of the city. People started talking more about Cyberabad and its glitzy towers than its famous Char Minar or Hussain Sagar.
The people from all over India have migrated to Hyderabad looking for jobs and new opportunities. The contribution of the risk taking and visionary entrepreneurs from Seemandhra in building Hyderabad and its surrounding areas is also huge. But, everything they built now belongs to Telangana and AP will have to build its new capital from the scratches.
The TRS chief and the first Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhara Rao has started his administration on a conciliatory note and wants the business community to stay back in Hyderabad and rest of Telangana.
Hyderabad may witness some dull moments and a sluggish growth because some investment is likely to move to Andhra Pradesh and its to be built Capital. The real estate has already collapsed in Hyderabad. But, the IT and Bio-Technology Companies are unlikely to shift base from Hyderabad, which is has got good infrastructure.
Since Hyderabad is a very well developed city, the KCR government does not need to do anything for its development once it comes under Telangana Government's control.
Will Hyderabad continue to grow and retain its place in the future? Only the time will tell.
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