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.