Govt ready to set up authority to study backwardness: AP CM

Hyderabad, Feb 22 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government is ready to constitute a 'Constitutional Authority' to study the backwardness of some regions and districts in the state, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said today.

Replying to the debate on motion of thanks on Governor's address in the Council, Dr Reddy said if all the parties agreed, the government would constitute a three-member authority, comprising an economist, judiciary and a sociologist to study the backwardness.

The government was also ready to discuss the issue in both Assembly and Council, he added.

Stating that the issue of separate Telangana was in the hands of the Congress high command as the it was very delicate and complicated, he said the difference of opinion on the issue was there since the Congress and TRS fought the 2004 elections together, promising the constitution of second SRC for granting statehood for Telangana.

''The authority would pave way for the government to study the backwardness of such areas and remove the disparities by allocating more funds,'' Dr Reddy said.

Meanwhile, CPI Floor leader P Nageswara Rao said his party welcomed the proposal to constitute such an authority.

UNI AP SJ RL VC1657