CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday claimed his Government had been successful in implementing a majority of promises made by the party during elections and was confident that it would cover over 95 per cent. Dr. Reddy, participating in the Congress Chief Ministers' conclave that began here, was closely questioned by Congress central leadership on some key areas like irrigation and welfare of weaker sections and fiscal management in the State.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought to know details of the irrigation projects being implemented in the Telangana region. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar wanted to know as to how the State Government lagged behind in spending the allocated money for scheduled castes and tribes while another Minister wanted to know what specific steps were being taken by the Government to cut down expenditure, and suggested cutting down interest subsidy to self-help groups.

On his part, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil suggested the Government should implement the newly enacted Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Food-for-work programmes in naxalite-affected areas and tackle the socio-economic factors of the problem.

Check on bill

The suggestions included early setting up of a State disaster management authority and opening up by hosting a website to carry forward Right to Information. The Chief Minister said the State Government was not making any fresh appointments unless absolutely necessary and shifted new employees since October last to the new pension scheme. These measures, he said, would help the State trim its bill.

In his interaction with the media, the Chief Minister refrained from making any comment on the observations on his Government at the conclave but said it spent nearly 55 per cent of Rs. 3,331 crores on irrigation in Telangana region. The focus of the State Government was towards setting up more irrigation projects and controlling the flow of river water that went down into sea.

On the issue of under-utilisation of budgetary allocation for scheduled castes and tribes, he said the situation arose since the previous Telugu Desam Government had not spent the amount earmarked for the purpose.

Free power

Dr. Reddy said he informed the meeting that the State was continuing with its promise of providing free power and at the same time increasing efficiency by taking a series of steps of checking transmission and distribution losses and improving plant-load factor.

He said the scheme to help self-help women groups had received praise from the World Bank. The scheme grants the groups a 6 per cent rebate on prompt repayment of loan. "Banks have come in a big way to finance them," he said, adding that Rs. 2,200 crores was disbursed among 16 lakh such groups.

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