Southern States
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Andhra Pradesh
Draft budget soon for public debate in A.P.
By Our Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD, DEC. 11. The State Government is going ahead with the move to place the draft budget 2002-2003 for public debate as it has obtained the necessary legal opinion, the Finance Minister, Mr.Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, indicated here on Tuesday.
The draft budget will be ready by January 15 and it will be released to the media to facilitate a public debate by financial experts and political parties, he said.
Making public the draft budget was part of the Government's endeavour at more transparency in the management of the State's finances, he said. Neither the Official Secrets' Act nor privilege of the State Assembly comes in the way of public debate on the draft budget, he opined.
Mr. Ramakrishnudu maintained that premature disclosure of the taxation proposals by keeping the Assembly in the dark would only amount to budget leak. ``We have gone through several rulings by the presiding officers on budget leaks,'' he said.
The Finance Minister said the decision to have public debate on the draft budget was part of the fiscal reforms initiated by the Government to streamline the functioning of the administration and the financial frame. A meaningful debate was expected to take place before presentation of the budget to the Assembly, he added.
The State Government had earlier deviated from the established norm and gone in for zero-based budget. The open budget was another such measure. What is being attempted by the Government is akin to the practice in the US where policy-makers seek people's feedback before actually financing the exercise.
Assembly to meet for nine days
The Assembly session, commencing on December 19, is likely to last for nine working days, according to informed sources. There are less than half a dozen Government Bills to be passed by the House.
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