Telangana government will bring out a white paper on its financial condition before the presentation of budget for 2015-16, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Friday.
Responding to a demand raised by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Legislature Party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, and supported by Leader of Opposition K Jana Reddy of the Congress, the Chief Minister said in the Telangana Legislative Assembly that his government has no objection in publishing a white paper on the state's finances.
"There are a lot of issues that need to be settled, post- bifurcation. Some of the funds from the Centre are still being credited into the Andhra Pradesh account. Hopefully all accounts will be settled before the next (state) budget," the Chief Minister said.
Two days ago, the MIM leader had demanded that the TRS government publish a white paper on the state's financial condition as it was "worse than the power crisis". Akbaruddin raised the demand again today as Finance Minister Etela Rajender, who replied to the general discussion on budget, did not speak anything about the white paper.
Jana Reddy supported Akbaruddin's demand and said the government could come out with the white paper even before the next budget. The Chief Minister conceded the demand and said the government has no objection in doing so. He also intervened and replied to various issues raised by opposition members in the Assembly on Friday.
Referring to the opposition criticism that the budgetary allocation of Rs 2,022 crore for backward classes welfare was "too meager", the Chief Minister agreed it was little, but promised to enhance the allocation after discussing all issues with leaders of all political parties.
Seeking to allay apprehensions over the power issue, the Chief Minister said "wonders will certainly happen" on the electricity front as the combined power generation capacity in the state would increase to 20,000 MW in the next three years.
The state would get 1,500 MW of additional power by August next, he said adding there need not be any doubts over securing power from neighbouring Chhattisgarh with which Telangana signed an agreement recently for supply of 1,000 MW.
He reiterated the claim that Telangana should get its share from the Krishnapatnam and Hinduja power plants coming up in Andhra Pradesh. Rao said Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore would be released for the Information Technology Investment Region being developed around Hyderabad.
Wipro promised creation of 5,000 jobs, while TCS unit at Adibhatla would generate another 27,000 jobs. The Chief Minister also said one lakh jobs were expected to be created in the government, including various corporations.
"Telangana State Public Service Commission will soon be constituted," he added. On reimbursement of tuition fees for students pursuing professional courses, the Chief Minister said all eligible students would get the benefit.
"I am not negative towards the students. I am negative only towards false institutes. The government is working on the Financial Assistance for Students of Telangana (FAST) scheme to extend fee reimbursement benefits," Rao added.
Arrears of Rs 1,587 crore, pending for the last four years, have to be cleared. The government made a budgetary provision of Rs 2,537 crore for the fee reimbursement scheme, he said.
Earlier, the state Finance Minister wound up the general discussion on budget and asserted that the government was committed to creating a "golden Telangana". "All our programmes are aimed at making the new state a golden Telangana. Welfare (of people) is our top most priority," Rajender said.
The budget, presented to the Legislature on November 5, has given a confidence to the people, he said.
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