Despite facing numerous challenges like massive floods, severe drought and separate statehood agitation during the last one year, AP has managed to move ahead on the path of progress, Rosaiah said.
Despite facing numerous challenges like massive floods, severe drought and separate statehood agitation during the last one year, Andhra Pradesh has managed to move ahead on the path of progress, chief minister K Rosaiah said today.
"Just 17 days after we celebrated the Independence Day last year, chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy died in a chopper crash. Before we could recover from the massive tragedy, we had massive floods. At the same time, there was severe drought in many areas," he said.
"Due to the global economic slowdown, thousands became
jobless in IT sector. This reflected in price rise too," he said in his Independence Day address at Parade grounds here.
The state exchequer came under tremendous pressure as revenue collections fell drastically due to the floods, famine
and "regional agitation" that lasted for four months, he said.
Agricultural production too witnessed a fall by 50 lakh tonnes compared to the previous year, Rosaiah said.
However, things looked up in the last six months with the government being able to concentrate on development, he said.
Consequently, revenue collections from April to June in the current fiscal registered a 31% growth during the corresponding period, he asserted.
"During April to June in 2009, total revenue was Rs 8,170 crore. This year the revenue is Rs 10,738 crore. In fact, our revenue target for the period for these three months was Rs 11,266 crore," he said.
Maintaining that all key areas like agriculture, irrigation and power have recorded impressive progress, Rosaiah said 12 irrigation projects have been completed in the last six years and the capacity of 20 other increased.
The state's power production capacity is 14,903 MW and the government aim's to achieve a fresh production capacity of 7,500 MW. The power supply and distribution losses have been reduced substantially to 18.52 per cent in 2009-10 which is the lowest in the country, he said.
Asserting that he never intended to put his "own stamp" on the development and welfare schemes being taken up in the state, Rosaiah said he considered effective implementation of the schemes initiated in the last six years as his aim.
"There was criticism that all the schemes that we are implementing are old. It is true. But all of them are designed
with a humane touch. They were all inspired by the ideals of
Gandhiji. If they are all implemented effectively, I have no doubt, our state will be in the frontline," he said.
"I was advised by some that I should have my own mark on
the schemes. If any new schemes are required, we will do it.
But my aim is to successfully implement the schemes that Rajasekhara Reddy was implementing," he said.
For the successful execution of the schemes, Rosaiah said a four-pronged strategy of improving the basic nature of the schemes, plugging the loopholes, ensuring that the benefits
reach the targeted beneficiaries and prioritising the schemes
as per funds availability has been adopted.
Assuring that he will strive for realising the goals of all the welfare programmes, the chief minister underlined the need to have peace and the cooperation of all.
He presented medals to meritorious policemen on the occasion. The policemen and others like NCC cadets performed the parade on the occasion. The government departments exhibited their tableaux at the event.
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