Rosaiah reviewed the financial health of the state and expressed his satisfaction.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah, on Monday, reviewed the financial position of the State and also the progress of externally-aided projects, and expressed his satisfaction over AP's financial position. He directed that not a single ongoing program should be allowed to suffer for want of finances.
Rosaiah directed the Finance Department to release funds to various schemes as per their requirements.
"We should ensure that no eligible or deserving person is deprived of the benefits of the welfare schemes", Rosaiah said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that all developmental and welfare schemes launched by former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would be continued vigorously, including welfare schemes like Arogyasri, free power for farmers, tuition fee reimbursements, and Rs. 2 per kg rice scheme.
The CM expressed satisfaction that there had been an improvement in the collection of taxes and the other major sources of revenue, such as Commercial Taxes, Excise, and Transport. The revenue mobilisation from April to the end of August 2010, has seen a growth of 19.7% over the figures for the corresponding period last year.
Rosaiah directed the Finance Department to ensure that all the concerned departments step up efforts to achieve their targets.
Special Chief Secretary, Finance, G Sudhir apprised the Chief Minister about the release of funds for the various schemes during the current financial year. Rs. 1,814 crore has been released to APTRANSCO towards power subsidy, and an amount of Rs. 1,500 crore has been released for the Rs. 2 per kg rice scheme to the Civil Supplies Department.
An amount of Rs. 541 crore has been released so far towards the popular Rajiv Arogyasri scheme, as against the budget provision of Rs. 925 crore in the current year. For Indiramma pensions for senior citizens, widows, and disabled persons, an amount of Rs. 1,449 crore has been released so far.
Rs. 911 crore has been released for the Indiramma Housing Program, out of the budget provision of Rs. 1,800 crore.
Abhaya Hastam, a co-contributory pension scheme for women beneficiaries of 18 to 60 years, is being implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation of India, and an amount of Rs. 110 crore has been released for it out of the budget provision of Rs. 220 crore.
The officials informed the Chief Minister that Rs. 649 crore has been released to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), as against the budget provision of Rs. 300 crore towards Matching State Share.
Towards the Matching State Share under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rs. 537 crore has been released, which includes Rs. 187 crore relating towards the previous year.
The provision in the budget is Rs. 350 crore, and Rs. 90 crore has been released under Rashtriya Madhyamika Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) towards Matching State Share as against the budget provision of Rs. 75 crore in this year, and Rs. 237 crore has been released to universities.
The Chief Minister was informed that reimbursement of tuition fees and scholarships to eligible students belonging to SCs, STs, BCs, minorities, EBCs and disabled categories has been taken up on priority, and an amount of Rs. 1,836 crore has been released for clearing the arrears.
For the Pavala Vaddi Scheme for women's Self Help Groups, Rs. 270 crore has been released as against the budget provision of Rs. 200 crore.
Rs. 744 crore has been released to the Roads and Buildings Department for taking up various road works and highway projects, and funds are also regularly being released for irrigation projects.
Officials said Rs. 200 crore has been released towards the Godavari water supply scheme to Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) under the urban water supply scheme.
The government also sanctioned Rs. 150 crore for the second phase of the Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS) in the State capital, and Rs. 377 crore has been released under the Rural Water Supply Scheme and Rs. 479 crore under rural sanitation campaign.
During the "Laila" cyclone in May this year, action was taken to sanction Rs. 396 crore for various departments to launch relief, repair and restoration works.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing various externally-aided projects with assistance from the World Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (now known as Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA) and KFW of Germany.
At present, there are 13 projects under implementation in the sectors of energy, rural development, irrigation, urban development, rural water supply and sanitation, and roads. There are proposals for projects in the pipeline for projects for the improvement of the energy sector, water supply and sewerage project of the HMWSSB, and the AP Rural Poverty Reduction Project (Phase-III). In addition, proposals for permanent repairs of damage caused due to the heavy rains and floods of August 2009 are also under consideration.
Chief Secretary S V Prasad, Adviser PK Agarwal, Special Chief Secretary of Finance G Sudhir, Secretary of Finance Vasudha Mishra, Secretary of Finance Sekhar Babu, Principal Secretaries to CM and other officials attended the meeting.
Courtesy: INN