Date:22/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072210640400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR seeks Centre's support for infrastructure projects

Special Correspondent

Justifies demand to achieve the targeted 9 p.c. growth in GSDP

Explains initiatives of his Government at Southern States' Chief Ministers on the approach paper for the 11th Five Year Plan at Thiruvanantapuram

Stresses need for putting agriculture back on a firm footing in State

PLANNING AHEAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy greets his Karnataka counterpart H. D. Kumaraswamy at the meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. V.S. Achuthanandan and N. Rangaswamy, Chief Ministers of Kerala and Pondicherry respectively are seen.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has urged the Centre to provide support for completing the infrastructure projects launched by the State Government.

Development of world-class infrastructure like ports, airports and quality power and water supply for rapid industrial development was necessary to achieve the targeted 9 per cent growth in the GSDP and this would need substantial resources.

"Since the State is already overstretched due to its heavy commitments towards irrigation projects, Central support for the infrastructure projects becomes inevitable," he said. The Centre could consider options like viability gap funding to bridge the budget deficit for their expeditious completion.

Preferred destinations

Dr. Reddy was participating in the two-day regional consultation meeting of the Planning Commission with the Southern States' Chief Ministers on the approach paper for the 11th Five Year Plan at Thiruvanantapuram on Friday. Explaining the initiatives launched by his Government, he said the proactive policies adopted by the Government like making available power at competitive rates had ensured that Hyderabad and Visakhaptnam were being considered as preferred destinations by the industry.

The Chief Minister, however, lamented that the relative slippage of agricultural growth that started during the mid-1990s had become too glaring thereafter. Since agriculture was the central avenue around which the hopes and aspirations of people converged, there was a need for reversing the deceleration witnessed in the sector. Nothing short of yet another "agricultural renaissance" had to be ushered in with due focus on enabling farmers in getting their legitimate returns on investment without leaving them to the mercy of monsoon, middlemen and market forces.

Additional ayacut

The State Government had accorded highest priority to irrigation and soil-water management and the completion of irrigation projects. An ambitious plan for creating 6.5 million acres for 26 major and medium projects was under implementation. Of these, eight were slated for completion in two years.