Date:20/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/20/stories/2004092005390400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No financial emergency, says Rosaiah

By Our Correspondent

KAKINADA, SEPT. 19 . The Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah, has refuted the Telugu Desam's charge that the State is facing a financial emergency due to the inefficiency of the Government.

Speaking to newspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Rosaiah said TDP leaders could "still not digest the election debacle" and were making "irresponsible statements" to mislead the public. "The TDP Government had survived on overdraft almost 326 days a year. This is not so with the Congress Government. During last four months, we have not availed of the overdraft. Moreover, by observing financial discipline, we have been able to save an interest of Rs. 181 crores," he said.

Free power

On the pre-election promise of free power to farms and households with one bulb, Mr. Rosaiah reiterated the Government's commitment to the policy. However, he said a problem had cropped up in giving new connections as their number had "shot up abnormally" after the elections. He said 50,000 new connections would be given to the agriculture sector every year as there were several technical problems involved. With regard to power to single-bulb households, he said the Government had decided to extend concession to all those who got a bill of Rs. 25.