CM confident of 10 per cent growth for AP

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has declared that Andhra Pradesh is confident of achieving a growth rate of 10 per cent during the 12th Plan period.

Speaking at the 56th meeting of National Development Council here on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that the corresponding sectoral growth targets would be 6 per cent for agriculture, 10.5 per cent for industry and 11.5 per cent for services. He said the new initiatives undertaken for the welfare of the farmers, women, students, SCs, STs, BCs, Minorities and the poorest of the poor in the State definitely made their lives brighter.

The Chief Minister said under Jalayagnam, the State Government have taken up 86 major and medium irrigation projects with a massive outlay of Rs.1,86,000 crores that include creation of new ayacut, stabilization of existing ayacut, modernisation and flood control works in a comprehensive manner. The Jalayagnam projects, on completion, will contribute approximately 60 percent of the new ayacut in the country, he said.

"It envisages 100 lakh acres of new ayacut and 22 lakh acres of stabilization. Further, it will meet the requirement of drinking water for 1.95 crore population, generation of 1850 MW of hydel electricity and supply of 46 TMC of water for industrial use. So far, 12 projects are completed and 21 projects are partly completed and a new IP of 26 lakh acres is already created. In the next three years, we plan to complete another 48 projects creating a new IP of 30 lakh acres," the Chief Minister said.

However, the Chief Minister said that the paucity of financial resources is the main constraint to early completion of remaining Jalayagnam projects. "Andhra Pradesh has invested Rs.53,000 crores on irrigation during the last 5 years. However, our efforts fall short of what is actually required. I am confident that the Government of India will recognize and appreciate these efforts to stimulate growth in the agricultural sector and to bolster national food security," he said.

The Chief Minister also explained the efforts of the State Government in bringing  26 lakh licensed cultivators into the mainstream and ensuring the access of all benefits like crop loans, input subsidy, crop insurance, seed and fertiliser subsidy - the Government has enacted the landmark AP land Licensed Cultivator Ordinance, 2011. A.P. is the only State to have enacted such a progressive legislation.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh stands 1st in the country in meat and egg production and the State targets to grow at a rate of 9 per cent annually. He said Andhra Pradesh accounts for 40 per cent of Indian fishery export and the sector contributes 2.58 per cent to the GSDP.

The Chief Minister also sought for adding 25 lakh tonnes of additional scientific storage capacity in the broader national interest to store food grains. He also said that the minimum support price fixed for food grains should compulsorily take into account the scientifically calculated cost of cultivation and should be remunerative to farmers and said this is especially relevant to Andhra Pradesh since the State substantially contributes to the national food requirement and food security.

The Chief Minister also explained new schemes like the Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative--the women-owned, women-operated micro finance system, Skill Development Centres and Rs 1-a-kg rice scheme covering 2.25 crore families for white card holders with an outlay of Rs.2,600 crores per annum.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the development of minorities is one of the concerns of the government under ensuring Social Justice. "The State outlay for minorities has significantly increased from Rs 20 crores only in 2004-05 to Rs 270 crores during the current fiscal. We are implementing reservation of 4 per cent to minorities and effectively implementing the 15-Point programme of the Central government," he said.