The plan outlay for Andhra Pradesh for 2010-2011 has been fixed at Rs.36,800 crore, which is 9.86 per cent more than the outlay of Rs. 33,497 crore fixed for 2009-2010. The actual increase is Rs.3,303 crore this year.
Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly approved a budget estimate of Rs.36,728 crore for 2010-11.
Though the State had sought the Planning Commission to approve Rs.36,750 crore outlay, the latter provided an additional Rs.50 crore increasing it to Rs.36,800 crore. Besides, it also assured additional central assistance to the State for taking up irrigation and road development works, sources said.
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The outlay was decided at the meeting held by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and his team with a high level delegation led by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah here on Friday.
Mr. Ahluwalia complimented the State for plan performance, reforms, and promoting public-private partnerships in the development of both physical and social infrastructure. The State had not only become revenue surplus, but also succeeded in maintaining fiscal deficit well within borrowing limits. He appreciated the State for initiatives in skill development, rural employment and health insurance schemes.
Briefing the Commission on Plan development, Mr. Rosaiah said that focus would continue on infrastructure and urban development. As many as 31,906 houses would be constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Small airports, ports and bridges would be taken under public private partnership. The other infrastructure projects include constructing a bridge across Godavari river, PVNR Expressway and Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports.
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The Chief Minister wanted labour cost for construction of housing to be included as permissible item under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
Later, talking to journalists, Mr. Ahluwalia expressed concern over the depleting water table in Andhra Pradesh, which could lead to a permanent drought-like situation in the State.
“Andhra Pradesh's utilisation of water as a percentage of recharge is much lower than many other States in the North. Only difference is that since it is a hard rock area, you have to become more concerned at lower level, he said.