AP Annual Plan Estimated At Rs 43,203cr

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh on Feb 16, estimated the annual State Plan at Rs 43,203 crore, which is higher by Rs 13,185 crore over the previous year, reflecting an increase of over 32 per cent. Together with non-plan expenditure of Rs 51,885 crore, and Centrally sponsored schemes Rs 5,348 crore (up 81 per cent) and Plan Rs 43,203 crore (up 44 per cent), the total budget for 2008-2009 is up 24 per cent at Rs 1,00,436 crore. The State Finance Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, presenting the fifth consecutive State Budget, said that plan size is the highest among States in the country for the last two years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. The State is likely to have revenue excess of Rs 709 crore in 2008-2009 as per budget estimates, which is about 0.2 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product. As per allocations, the irrigation sector has got Rs 16,500 crore followed by housing Rs. 5,850 crore and panchayat raj Rs 3,838 crore with allocations for various welfare measures. Significantly, the budget has given Rs 1,980 crore for rice subsidy scheme, which the Government expects to launch next fiscal.