Hyderabad: The planning commission appreciated Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy’s welfare initiatives including the ‘Bangaru Talli’ (monetary assistance to girl child) and approved the annual plan of Rs 53,000 crore.

The plan expenditure in the state Budget grew by 8.2 per cent against Rs 48,935 crore in 2012-2013. The state continued to be on top vis-a-vis the annual plan outlay.

The approval was given at a high-level meeting held by Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia with Chief Minister and senior state officials at New Delhi on Thursday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Ahluwalia said he was extremely happy over the state’s progress on several social and welfare indicators. In particular, he appreciated the legislative back up to the SC and ST sub plan and asked all the states to emulate Andhra Pradesh in this regard.

Contrary to reports that the Planning Commission pulled up the state for certain shortcomings, Dr Ahluwalia said the commission had found no fault at all with the implementation of plan by the state government.

“The state fared well both economically and socially,” he said.

Dr Ahluwalia suggested to the Chief Minister to take up critical issues in energy and infrastructure with Centre and resolve the long-pending problems. He stressed the need for infusing additional investments in road and rail projects and expediting irrigation projects.

The Chief Minister said the planning commission had asked the state to send fresh proposals for Rs 2,500 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

 “Our proposed expenditure in 12th five year plan, the highest in the country, is expected to be `3.42 lakh crore,” he said.

Thanking the planning commission for approving the annual outlay, the Chief Minister said the former had evinced keen interest in SC,ST sub plan, Indiramma kalalu and bangaru talli schemes. The planning commission will showcase our schemes to other states, he added.