Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Monday, Feb 13, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Monday, Feb 13, 2006 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Infrastructure AP irrigation outlay to go up Our Bureau
Hyderabad , Feb. 12 THE irrigation sector in Andhra Pradesh is projected to get a lion's share of budgetary allocation in 2006-2007 up at Rs 10,000 crore from Rs 7,000 crore earmarked this fiscal (2005-2006). According to a statement from the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, this allocation marks a significant jump compared to the annual expenditure of Rs 760 crore to Rs 1,460 crore for the sector during 1994-95 to 2003-04. The Government expects focus on irrigation projects, together with free power benefiting more than 20 lakh farmers, to bring about a rural revolution. This would be further consolidated by Indiramma scheme, scheduled for launch on April 1, which seeks to address basic infrastructure needs in villages and towns. The Chief Minister, in an open letter, declared that this foundation for economic development would be enjoyed in the 50-year-old united Andhra Pradesh. Citing Jalayagnam, Indiramma, Employment Mission and industrial and IT sector growth as pillars around which development of the State would be founded on, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that every single citizen will be part of the economic prosperity in the next few years. Dr Reddy said the State bagging the Rs 13,200-crore Fab City project, which could potentially employ about 1.5 lakh people over 10 years, will potentially change the face of the State. Already, Rs 20,000 crore investments have been finalised for a host of projects including the 7.5-million tonnes ONGC refinery at Kakinada, expansion of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and the petrochemical complex at Vizag by HPCL. The State has managed to bring about significant changes without enhancing power tariff for 1.6 crore consumers, he said. Dr Reddy said, "The goal is to ensure equitable development of all regions which would give no scope for people or any organisation and party to raise issues relating to regional imbalances." Some parties were seeking to block irrigation projects for frivolous reasons, however, no force can prevent the construction of the irrigation projects, he said. An all-party meeting has been convened on Tuesday to discuss the Polavaram project, he added. The Chief Minister said that the ambitious Jalayagnam programme will cover 80 per cent of the cultivable areas in the drought-prone Telangana districts of Adilabad, Warangal, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar and Khammam, bringing them on a par with the developed districts. In Mahabubnagar district alone, the total ayacut will rise to 9 lakh acres from the current level of 1.4 lakh acres. Likewise, the upland areas of coastal region and the most backward parts of the Rayalaseema like Pattikonda will get water for irrigation and drinking. Given the advantages these major projects bring to the State, the Chief Minister invited suggestions on the ongoing projects and implementation of welfare schemes such as Indiramma , and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
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