00:00Chandra Babu has discussed the development of southern states including Andhra Pradesh during the ongoing South Zonal Council meeting.
00:09Chandra Babu Naidu urges southern states' cooperation as the key to success.
00:15He has also urged that all issues can be resolved through trust and mutual cooperation between the centre and the
00:22states.
00:22The bullet train corridor proposal connecting Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is also one of the points that he
00:31has raised in his speech at the Zonal Council meeting with Chandra Babu Naidu proposing running the bullet train via
00:38Kuppan.
00:39And he has emphasised the need for a transport system that connects the cities of Amaravati, Bengaluru and Chennai.
00:46He is also talking about establishing common logistics networks and dry ports.
00:53Apoorva of course continues to be with me on this story.
00:55Apoorva you were just talking about what is happening at the Zonal Council meeting.
01:00Now we are looking at what the Andhra Chief Minister is talking about.
01:03He is talking about a national grid.
01:05He is talking about transport connectivity, railway connectivity and better cooperation between the states.
01:13He is also talking about a consortium of universities, skill development, etc.
01:19So we are looking at multiple points, multiple issues really being raised at this meeting, isn't it?
01:29Well yes, in fact the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister who is also partaking in the meeting, let me remind you,
01:34he is one of the most senior, most politicians in this meeting as well.
01:37And it shows in the kind of demands and, you know, in the kind of topics that he has taken
01:42up for discussion.
01:43In fact, he is called saying very, you know, on a key point saying it all will be addressed only
01:49if all the southern states have cooperation amongst one another.
01:53Yes, we keep fighting on issues connecting to water.
01:56We keep fighting on issues connecting to, you know, funds that are being allocated.
01:59But it is going to be beneficial for the greater good of the southern states only if all the states
02:05can go ahead and have a combined solution.
02:09That's the key point that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Narachandra Babu Naidu has gone ahead and stated.
02:14Not only that, he has also talked about various projects linking, you know, Andhra Pradesh as well.
02:19Not only, you know, the Bankachala Polarwaram project, but he has also talked about the AP Reorganisation Act.
02:25That's one of the most important demands here for the state of Andhra Pradesh.
02:29Apart from this, he has also talked about the water issue that is ongoing, you know, fueling between states here,
02:36be it Karnataka and Tamil Nadu or Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,
02:39talking about how there needs to be, you know, proper discussions that needs to entail.
02:44He says the entire Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Kaveri water issue can be completely cut off if you just go
02:50ahead and interlink the Godavari Kaveri water.
02:53That way, Karnataka will not go ahead and suffer because of these kind of, you know, tribunals that are giving
03:00a pass for the Karnataka government.
03:02In fact, we also see several of the southern chief ministers agreeing with the points that CBN has put forth.
03:08And, you know, these discussions that are only carrying on as all state chief ministers, Anisha, let me remind you,
03:14they all have just one goal in mind, which is that the southern states thrive and the southern states come
03:19out on the top,
03:20given that the GDP time and time again has proven the same.
03:24All right, Aburva, stay on with me.
03:26Let's look at what is happening really in this very crucial meeting.
03:30This is the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, which is happening right now.
03:35The chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana,
03:41as well as the representatives of the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadir are here at this
03:49meeting.
03:49A number of issues on the anvil are to be discussed by this Zonal Council,
03:56which is really looking at all the interstate as well as centre versus state issues.
04:02And more breaking news that's coming in from this meeting.
04:06Now, Kerala's chief minister has raised the Mullaparia Dam issue.
04:11Kerala has assured Tamil Nadu to give the water from the new Mullaparia Dam.
04:16once there is an agreement reached between the two states.
04:21The cost by Kerala, the design, construction and location to be decided by Tamil Nadu.
04:27Kerala, viewers, is seeking regional cooperation for building Kerala as port city as part of Mission Samudra.
04:36The Mineral Act amendment also is, the demand is also coming in from Kerala
04:41that the Mineral Act amendment should be annulled.
04:44The chief minister also raising the issue of one-third reservation to women
04:50without increasing the total strength of the parliament.
04:55Apoorva continues to be with me on this story.
04:57Apoorva, this meeting, as we were just discussing, is a very, very crucial one.
05:02A number of interstate issues are being discussed, a number of centre state issues being discussed.
05:08Now, the Kerala chief minister also raising two very crucial points.
05:11The water sharing issue, the Mullaparia, through the Mullaparia Dam,
05:17and the question of women's reservation in the parliament versus the entire question of fresh delimitation.
05:25We'll get Apoorva back on the line with us in just a moment.
05:29But viewers, let's talk about all of these issues that are currently under discussion.
05:35We've just heard from the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, we've heard from the Tamil Nadu chief minister,
05:42now the Kerala chief minister talking about the issues that are of importance for his state.
05:49We are looking at this very crucial zonal council meeting,
05:53which is to look at regional cooperation, coordination between the states,
05:59as well as ensuring that all of these states and the central government come together on the very important points.
06:06And two things seem to be very clear.
06:09Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu have very clearly said that they do not agree with the delimitation exercise.
06:15They've raised very, very serious concerns about what will happen to the southern states
06:21if delimitation and increase in the seats in parliament is brought by an act of parliament.
06:30If there is fresh delimitation, what will happen?
06:32The Kerala chief minister also saying that we can agree to give one third quota to women in the parliament
06:38and in the states with the numbers that already exist.
06:42And this is a question that has been under debate for the last several years, really, viewers.
06:48Why not give women reservation within the seats that are already in existence?
06:55The second big ticket issue that is under debate in this council meeting is the water sharing issue.
07:03We've seen this also really coming up again and again every year
07:10where the rains fail between Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
07:16particularly when it comes to the Mullapereya Dam, when it comes to Kaveri water sharing.
07:20Both of these issues have come up repeatedly over the years.
07:25There is a water commission.
07:27There is a water management authority.
07:30There are multiple meetings and even court litigation that happens again and again.
07:37But when it comes to the pre- and post-monsoon, when it comes to the hot season,
07:46the water availability when it comes to both drinking water, farming and industry
07:53is a big, big area of concern for all three states.
07:58And we've seen comments coming in on this issue from all the chief ministers of all the major states
08:06in the South Zonal Conference that we've been seeing.
08:12We saw this issue being raised by Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay with regard to the Kaveri waters issue.
08:19Now again, Kerala chief minister has raised the issue of the Mullapereya Dam construction.
08:25Now remember, the Mullapereya Dam reservoir has also been a major source of political controversy
08:35and political opposition between all of these states.
08:40When you create more dams on the river system that already exists,
08:46the amount of water that is saved for use in the state where the dam exists
08:52versus the amount of water that goes to the other states changes.
08:57And we've seen very recently again Karnataka and Tamil Nadu going all the way up to the Supreme Court
09:03on this very issue where Tamil Nadu is saying they're not getting enough water coming from the Kaveri river.
09:10So once again, the water wars and the water woes
09:14are possibly going to be at the centre of debate in this meeting.
09:19We'll see you next time.
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