Andhra Pradesh

“Congress’ focus on poor”

HYDERABAD : Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has based its policies on the principle of inclusive growth involving the poor in the last four years. However, previous governments have ignored the poor, he says.

The Centre is not happy to give money to State governments that spend money purposelessly, he said at a public meeting at the Nizam College grounds here on Saturday to mark the launch of Rajiv Arogyasri scheme in the State capital. The meeting also coincided with the inauguration of phase II of Krishna drinking water supply project for the city. He said that the Central government was quite pleased to extend a grant of Rs. 2,362 crore to the State for implementation of Hyderabad Metro Rail project as past experience showed that the latter had made good use of the funds given to it.

Mr. Chidambaram said the UPA government had not come up with any new ideas in its rule. The ideas which it implemented had been debated for several years. But, previous governments did not introduce programmes in tune with such ideas. This was precisely the difference between the Congress and non-Congress governments.

Earlier, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said the estimate of the Metro Rail project was revised from Rs. 9,696 crore to Rs. 11,814 crore two days ago. The number of coaches under the project were also increased from 219 to 325.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said all localities under the limits of Greater Hyderabad would be supplied with drinking water on a daily basis in two to three months.

He said 4,500 beds in 320 corporate hospitals across the State were set apart for patients admitted in Arogyasri scheme.

A mega health camp with the participation of several corporate hospitals was held to mark the occasion.

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