The Budget session of the Assembly begins on a stormy note, with all the Opposition parties boycotting the Governor's address.
The Budget session of the state Legislative Assembly and Council began on a stormy note, with all the Opposition parties boycotting Governor E S L Narasimhan's ceremonial address.
As soon as the House met at 9:30am, the members of Telugu Desam Party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the CPI and the BJP created an uproar, making it impossible for the Governor to begin his speech. The din continued for almost 15 minutes, until all the Opposition parties staged a walk-out. The Governor finished his 40-page long speech in just 35 minutes.
Describing the past one year as "eventful", the Governor listed out several schemes being implemented by the state government.
"My government introduced various innovative welfare programs, such as the Rs. 1 a kg rice scheme, interest-free crop loans for farmers, the Licensed Cultivators' Act, Indira Jala Prabha for the benefit of weaker sections, interest-free loans for women's self-help groups under the Indira Kranthi Patham, the State Milk Mission, Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu and Mee Seva," he said.
"On the development front," Narasimhan claimed, "the government clearly prioritised the projects in irrigation, and allocated the resources required for the completion of projects expeditiously, with close monitoring of their progress."
He said that the government re-established the image of Andhra Pradesh as a preferred destination of investments, through the successful conduct of the Partnership Summit.
He also claimed that a total of 50 lakh households in the state have benefitted under Phase I and II of the Rachabanda program by way of ration cards, pension and houses.
"For the last few years, annual plan expenditure has risen up consistently from Rs. 11,456.54 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 31,576 crore in 2010-11. The Plan Expenditure has shown a growth of more than 7% during 2010-11 over the previous year," the Governor said.
"The revenues of the state, which grew at more than 19% compounded per annum for the 5-year period 2004-05 to 2010-11, have maintained their ascending trend by registering an overwhelming growth in excess of 35% during 2010-11 over the previous year," he said, adding that capital expenditure has been growing at 14.13% and revenues from Commercial Taxes would register a growth of 21.72% this year.
The Governor claimed that the state's economy has been showing "definite positive growth trends" and was inching close towards the national trends.
"The achievement thus far during the 11th Plan is encouraging and commendable, especially when we take into account the adverse impact of the recession and unfavourable seasonal conditions during this period," he said.
Mentioning the drought, Narasimhan said that 34.24 lakh hectares of cropped area has been damaged in addition to 45,912 hectares damaged under horticulture and vegetable crops.
He said that financial assistance of Rs. 2,584 crore was sought from the Centre for drought mitigation works and relief measures in 878 affected mandals. However, he said, despite the drought, food grain production in the state was 203.14 lakh metric tonnes, close to its all-time high.
The Governor also spoke about the status of several welfare schemes being implemented by the government. However, he restrained from hinting about the new schemes proposed to be launched during the next Budget.
"I would like to reaffirm my government's resolve for speedier and balance economic development and for delivering the fruits of development to the needy and deserving sections," the Governor said in conclusion. (INN)