AP to go for Public Private Partnership budget

Vijayawada: “The AP government will be presenting the best budget in the country for 2016-17. The budget will not compromise on welfare programmes and will go for Public Private Partnership for development of the state,” said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Inaugurating the two-day District Collectors’ Conference, Chandrababu Naidu said that the next budget to be presented would balance the revenue deficit, welfare programmes and development orientation.

The State had started with over Rs 16,079 crore revenue deficit which was promised to be provided by the Centre. However, the Central government had extended Rs 2,300 crore in two years, he said.

He reiterated that the government was going ahead with all its developmental plans targeting double digit growth. The Chief Minister said that he was able to increase the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) from 8.4 in the first year to 10.5 this year, which was comparatively placed better at the national level.

While thanking the officials and the district Collectors for the improved growth, the Chief Minister sought their cooperation in the years to come to develop the State balancing the welfare programmes and development, despite the revenue gap. He favoured the use of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in all developmental programmes for better results.

Chandrababu Naidu asked the Collectors to focus on the local resources available and ensure that the districts achieved the expected growth in GSDP. The government was going forward to make the State drought-free by increasing the water resources and making the State water surplus.

He recalled that the State was able to overcome the power crisis and now had put the State in power surplus with continued efforts. Similar efforts are to be made to make the State water surplus, he said and reiterated that the government was committed to complete the Polavaram Project first phase by June 2018.

He expressed confidence that the Central government would extend the promised financial support to the State. Referring to the promises made to the State at the time of bifurcation, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to get the special category status.

He said that the State government had been asking the Centre to speed up the process. He emphasised the need to get a hand-holding support from the Centre to compete with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana.

He also wanted the Centre to release funds promised for the backward regions of Rayalaseema and north Andhra. He said that the government had given Rs 10 crore to each of the seven districts in the two regions in the last two years and felt that the amount was not sufficient.

Referring to the prospects of the State, the Chief Minister said that the IT and Tourism sectors have better future in the years to come. However, to get promotion in these two sectors, the people of the State should develop hospitality sector, besides changing their attitude. “I want the State to be soft towards guests.

The humbleness and loyalties to others pay well,” he added and wanted people to change their attitude. Chandrababu Naidu said that the State was aiming at becoming one of the top three States in the country by 2020 and wanted the officials to work in this direction.

Expressing concern over the increasing disturbances in the State particularly in the name of caste, the Chief Minister wanted the district Collectors to handle them with iron hand to ensure that peace prevailed in the State.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy and Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishudu spoke. Chief Commissioner of Land Administration Anil Chandra Punetha welcomed while Chief Secretary S P Tucker delivered welcome speech.