The Hindu Business Line : AP annual Plan outlay fixed at Rs 30,500 cr

GROWTH STRATEGY: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, with the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, in New Delhi on Monday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi April 16 The Annual Plan of Andhra Pradesh for the fiscal year 2007-08 has been pegged at Rs 30,500 crore, inclusive of one-time Central assistance of Rs 150 core to the State for special programmes in the animal husbandry sector.

The State's Plan size was decided at a meeting here between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

In his preliminary remarks, Mr Ahluwalia lauded the State for significantly improving the growth rate and following a development process with accent on inclusive growth. Plan realisation as well as outlay was moving in the right direction.

It was stated that National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme was well executed by the State and Andhra Pradesh has also substantially cut down transmission and distribution losses in the power sector.

Central schemes

However, Mr Ahluwalia expressed concern over the slow execution of Central schemes and urged the State to come forward in pointing out difficulties in the execution of these schemes so that steps could be taken to make guidelines flexible.

He urged the State to speed up efforts for achieving goals under National Common Minimum Programme. Provision of drinking water in all rural habitations and sanitation should be given more attention and the lower than national average literacy rate in the State must be improved.

The Plan panel also praised the efforts being made by the State for fostering investor-friendly milieu and introduction of district planning committees and cluster-based development of small-scale industries.

State performance

Briefing the Plan panel on the performance of the State, the Chief Minister said that plan realisation had improved during the last couple of years. The State was aiming at reaching higher than the national average in growth during the 11th Plan period with the focus on rural development and time-bound approach to improve irrigation potential.

He said that in the 11th Plan the State aims at bringing under irrigation 12 lakh acres of land every year.

He said innovative schemes are being introduced to improve rural employment and public-private partnership in social development was being encouraged.

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