Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Provide basic amenities during 11th Plan: YSR

Special Correspondent

Aim is to provide drinking water, electricity, telephone and institutional credit to all households: Chief Minister

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday said time had now come to realise the dream of providing drinking water, electricity, telephone and institutional credit to all households during the 11th Five-Year Plan.

Taking part in the National Development Council meeting here, Dr. Reddy welcomed the target of 9 per cent growth rate envisaged in the Approach Paper to the 11th Plan saying faster growth would hasten poverty alleviation and usher in growth. He, however, cautioned that equitable economic growth would not be possible if the agriculture sector continued to remain crisis-ridden.

Protecting farmers

To address problems in the sector, the Chief Minister called for means to make agriculture remunerative and protect farmers from vagaries of monsoon, middlemen and market forces.

Dr. Reddy said his Government had accorded the highest priority to the irrigation sector and during the last three years it had created 12 lakh acres of irrigation potential. The State Government intended to complete all the 30 major and 18 medium projects by 2012 and create an additional irrigation potential of 73 lakh acres.

In this regard, he welcomed the Centre's Bharat Nirman programme, and sought a major programme to revive traditional village tanks. Dr Reddy called for higher investments in livestock and fisheries sector since a large number of rural people depended on them . He suggested introduction of agriculture insurance covering not only bank loans but also farmers' efforts.

Referring to the success of insurance policy extended to sheep and goats in Andhra Pradesh, he sought a similar insurance cover to 100 per cent livestock. He sought continuation of Prime Minister's special package for farmers for some time since the challenge persisted.

Calling for emphasis on industrial infrastructure, Dr. Reddy sought Central support for building ports, airports, expressways, power generation and supply as the State Plan was overstretched.

Greenfield IIT sought

He sought establishment of a Greenfield IIT in Andhra Pradesh during XI Plan. In the education sector, Dr. Reddy sought continuation of 75 per cent Central contribution for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

Departing from prepared text, Dr. Reddy sought Central assistance for modernising Krishna-Godavari drainage system to prevent the area from inundation during cyclones.

He also sought enhancement of allocation for Jawahar National Urban Renewal Mission.

Dr. Reddy asked the Centre to appoint price regulator for coal and natural gas. In the health sector, he suggested that the Centre formulate a national policy to address State-specific deficiencies in primary health sector.

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