In a memorandum to president K R Narayanan, Dr Mishra highlighted the ``disadvantages of the proposed division of the state''.

``A bifurcated Bihar would be left as an invalid needing the crutches of the Central government,'' the former Bihar chief minister said.

Terming the move as a ``hasty political decision'', Dr Mishra expressed apprehensions that the ``division may encourage separatist and extremist forces elsewhere in the country, jeopardising national unity and integrity and the very essence of our federal structure.'' He also underlined that a heavy expenditure will also have to be incurred in the creation of the proposed state.

The proposed Vananchal state covers the entire south Bihar and a part of the eastern part ofthe central Bihar (erstwhile Santhal Parganas division).

The question about formation of Vananchal (or Jharkhand) state has hit the ground now that the President has made his recommendation, which the State Assembly will discuss and debate from September 18 to 20. After that the Assembly will give its opinion on the proposed bill.

Dr Mishra said all the political parties should oppose the proposal as their opinion ``would have influence when the bill is later tabled in Parliament''.

``In case the proposed division comes into existence without any changes all the positive revenue-generating activities will have to be parted with in the name of Vananchal,'' he said.

Dr Mishra said, ``With mineral-rich, industrialised Vananchal being separated from Bihar, the latter would represent a totally agricultural economy bereft of any viable industry.''

``Of the 55 districts in the state, only eight are industrially developed and of these seven are in south Bihar. All the major public sector industries likeBokaro Steel Plant, Bharat Refineries in Giridih, Hindustan Zinc in Dhanbad among others are located in the south while the north has only a refinery and a fertiliser plant in Barauni and Begusarai respectively,'' the memorandum said.

``In the private sector, too, south Bihar has giants, including Tata Steel, Tata Tinplate in Jamshedpur, Bihar Alloys Steel in Hazaribagh and Usha Group in Ranchi. But in the north, the Rohtas Industries is closed and most of the 28 sugar mills are defunct,'' the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Separation of the rich south would leave the starving north and central Bihar districts, already plagued by the recurring floods and the Naxal activities, in tatters, he said. The proposed state, comprising Chhota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas, will also face difficulties in terms of social infrastructure.

``For a long time the state will not have sufficient number of trained personnel to run the administration. It will also be difficult for the new state to find out enough resources to set upadministrative arrangements.''

Dr Mishra suggested that the Centre must withdraw the bill and reconsider it under a states' reorganisation commission, which should examine in detail all aspects of the issue and obtain expert opinion in this connection.

``Only after this a decision about reorganisation (of the state) should be taken,'' he said.