The Times of India               31.05.2013

Rs 53,000 crore plan size for AP

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission on Thursday approved a plan size of Rs 53,000 crore for the state for 2013-14. This was finalized at a high-level meeting of the plan panel officials with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy here on Thursday.

Interestingly, the pet schemes of the chief minister, especially Bangaru Thalli, Indiramma Kalalu and SC/ST sub-plan, received unusual applause from the planning commission. According to sources, the commission was so impressed that planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told the media that he would ask the other states to emulate the schemes initiated in Andhra Pradesh by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government after assessing their results.

The CM said the state was committed to bring down the poverty from 21 per cent to 12 per cent by 2016- 17. Andhra Pradesh, the CM claimed, stood above the national average in most of the social indicators,. "The target growth rate for Andhra Pradesh for 12th plan is 10 per cent whereas the national target is 8.8 per cent. The per capita income of the state stood at Rs 77,277 while the national average is Rs 68,747," he said.

He said he had requested the Planning Commission to declare Pranahita-Chevella and Polavaram projects as national projects. The CM assured the commission that he would bring down the palm oil import bill if the Centre allocates a special project for the state to assist palm oil farmers.

"The Centre is importing worth Rs 50,000 to 60,000 crore worth palm oil every year. Andhra Pradesh has got the potential to meet the demand of the country if Centre allots Rs 2,500 crore per year for five years," he said and hoped for a positive response from the commission.