Budget directionless, priority sectors neglected: Babu

Describing the Budget for 2011-12 presented by the Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy in the Assembly on Wednesday as ‘directionless’ Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the state government has no understanding of its own priorities.

Mr Naidu further charged that core sectors have been neglected while other sectors have been allotted a lion’s share of funds.

The former chief minister charged the state government of completely neglecting welfare projects in the budget by allotting meagre amounts for funds.

Mr Naidu pointed out to the lack of any mention to the arrears of fee reimbursement to private college managements or of the pending bills of contractors in the budget, and alleged that the government has totally failed in allotting funds to departments, which are facing serious financial problems. “How can they manage the funds for one year with meager allotment of grants in the budget,” he questioned.

He reminded that the TDP regime under him had released ‘white paper’ listing out the state’s financial position before presenting the budget. This practice has been dispensed with, Mr Naidu said and rued that the government was throwing rules and regulations to the wind.

The TDP chief further said that budget was ‘not useful’ since it curtails the growth and progress of the state.

Giving an example, Mr Naidu said that the government has allotted Rs 4,900 crore in budget for the AP GENCO while the department has debt of Rs 10,000 crore. This shows that the government has no clear vision and has neglected the priority sectors.

The TDP chief also pointed out that Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy had failed to make any mention of the 9 hour power supply to farmers. This he said was the government’s way of going back on its words since it had not even been able to supply power for seven hours to farmers.

The former chief minister also lashed out at the absence of any mention on the Rs 2 a kg rice under public distribution system.

Describing the administration in the state as `Jungle Raj,’ Mr Naidu predicted that the state may witness a serious financial crisis if the matters were not set right.