AP Annual Plan Pegged At Rs 44,000cr

The annual plan outlay of Andhra Pradesh for 2008-09 has been estimated at Rs 44,000 crore, comprehensive of additional Central assistance of Rs 165 crore for projects of special interest to the State. This was accorded here on April 21 at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Mr Ahluwalia said that the State was doing well in all sectors of economy and adverted to the State''s efforts for boosting private sector participation in social sectors including education and health in this regard. Complimenting the State on focused attention to agriculture and allied areas, he said fund flow to irrigation sector has gone up substantially during the last four years with the State posting impressive increase in yields.

The State Government was appreciated for introducing agriculture insurance scheme with village as a unit, loan to farmers on three per cent interest and aggressive agriculture extension programme. The Chief Minister said that last four years, the economy has climbed an accelerated growth trajectory because of bold policy initiative in major areas. The GSDP has registered the highest ever plan growth of 7.42 per cent. The growth rate for 2007-08 (first year of the Eleventh Plan) was expected to be 10.37 per cent.

AP Economic Survey Shows Optimism

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Socio Economic Survey for 2007-08 shows all-round development with various economic sectors showing optimism. The State''s average industrial sector growth has increased by 8.9 per cent during 2004-08 as against 5.4 per cent during 2000-04, the agriculture sector annual production has increased to 161 tonnes (2004-08) from 138 tonnes (2000-04) and the economic growth was up 8.7 per cent during 2004-08 as against 6.17 per cent in 2000-04. The overall economic outcome reflects the policy framework of the State, which seeks to encourage development across various sectors of economy. The Gross State Domestic Product for Andhra Pradesh in 2007-08 is pegged at 10.37 per cent and is the highest seen in the last two decades. The State economy is moving towards employability and the annual employment growth rate during 2004-08 is 3.7 per cent. The State hopes to get full literacy by 2015.

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.