Title: Regarding the railway notification on bifurcating and merging the Bellary Section of Guntakal Railway Division with the Hubli Division.
(ANANTAPUR): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to raise a burning issue concerning the most backward area, that is, Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh. There is Guntakal Railway Division. It was formed in 1955. Since the inception of this Division, it has been catering to the needs of the people of Rayalaseema.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Railways has issued a fresh Notification with regard to the territory of this Division. In that Notification, an injustice has been done to the Guntakal Division. The Bellary section in that Division has been bifurcated and merged with the Hubli Division.
The total income from this Division is Rs. 536 crore out of which it is getting Rs. 400 crore per year only from transportation of iron-ore. The iron-ore mines are located only in the Bellary section. That is why this division will be questionable in future.
I would request the Ministry of Railways to please pick up the old Notification, issued on 2nd July, 2002. In this regard, there was no need to issue a fresh Notification within eight months.