Date:12/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/12/stories/2008021254170400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Governor unveils grandiose plan

Special Correspondent

For improving physical infrastructure in all districts of the State

HYDERABAD: Delivering his maiden address to the joint meeting of the Legislative Assembly and the Council on the opening day of the budget session on Monday, Governor N. D. Tiwari unveiled a grandiose plan to develop physical infrastructure in all the districts.

The plan envisages four-lane road connectivity to all district headquarters and important towns, airports apart from multi-speciality hospitals, a university, star hotels, quality schools and industrial estates. It also aims at affordable middle-class housing, 24-hour power supply, and piped gas connection to households. Ports will be developed in all the nine coastal districts. The Governor, however, did not indicate the sum likely to be spent to implement this plan which is primarily aimed at enhancing the share of manufacturing in the economy.

Warm welcome

Mr. Tiwari walked into the Old Assembly Hall to a red carpet welcome by Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy and Council Chairman A. Chakrapani, greeted those in the first row, including Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu. Unruffled by noisy protests by opposition members over the Government’s claims, he read out the 50-page text. He complimented the Government for its “wonderful performance” in achieving two-digit annual economic growth rate at 10.37 per cent for 2007-08.

Airports and ports

A site had been selected near S. Rayavaram for construction of Visakhapatnam international airport while the one already built for Hyderabad would be operational from March 16.The Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district would be inaugurated in July. Works had been launched on Machilipatnam port while proposals were on the cards to develop ports at Nizampatnam, Bhavanampadu, Narsapur and Vodarevu. He said the task was not complete as equitable distribution of wealth must be ensured to all regions and sections of society.

Touching upon progress in different sectors amidst thumping of desks by Congress members, he referred to the initiatives taken to pull agriculture out of “earlier distress.”

The scheme to sell rice at Rs. 2 per kg to the poor would be launched on April 1.

A sum of Rs. 2,698 crore had been set aside to purchase power from outside sources this year to ensure free supply to farm sector.