Going by the gloomy financial situation post-bifurcation, the zero-based budget presented by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishna on Thursday is on expected lines and sends positive signals for promotion of industries, tourism, IT and skill development, representatives from trade and industry here feel.
Welcoming the commitment expressed by the government to implement five missions, seven grids and its development agenda, they said the allocations were mainly linked to the Centre’s failure to grant special category status and release of funds as part of special package for seven backward districts of North Andhra and Rayalaseema.
“There is priority attached to irrigation projects including Polavaram which the government said will be completed in three years. Skill development and rural schemes have been accorded priority, which sends positive signals,” Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation vice-president G. Sambasiva Rao told The Hindu.
Despite severe resource crunch, allotment of Rs.3,168 crore to new capital, Rs.637 crore to industries, Rs.360 crore to skill development, Rs.370 crore to IT and Rs.300 crore to tourism is a welcome sign, he said.
The budget has not made any mention of constituting AP Maritime Board to spur development all along the 970-km coastline, the second largest after Gujarat. It should be taken up at the earliest, Mr. Rao said.
Lauding the allocation of Rs.370 crore for IT compared to Rs.300 crore allotted in the last budget for undivided Andhra Pradesh, Vizag Development Council vice-president O. Naresh Kumar said for achieving the target of creating 5,000 startups and five lakh jobs by 2020, the government needs at least an investment of Rs.1,000 crore. “If investment is made now, the results can be felt two years later,” he stated. He hoped that in future, the allocation would be raised.
