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State budget lacklustre, says TDP

State budget lacklustre, says TDP

HYDERABAD: TDP leaders alleged that figures were manipulated to manage the deficit in the budget which was not development-oriented and disappointed the people.

At a press conference here on Sunday, TDP leaders Y. Ramakrishnudu, E.Peddi Reddy and T.Seetharam said that no tangible benefits were reflected in the budget as the allocations in different sectors were “misused, misappropriated and mismanaged” by the government, leading to stunted growth.

Although total borrowings since the last six years had crossed Rs.64,000 crore, important areas like irrigation and welfare faced cuts in expenditure and overall cut in the expenditure of various sectors since 2004-05 was Rs.49, 547 crore.

‘Figures manipulated’

It was obvious that figures were manipulated to manage the deficit. Or else how could the revenue income of Rs.46,644 crore remain unchanged in revised estimates when there was a decline in tax collections, they asked.

The TDP questioned the need for the government to effect cut in the expenditure of important sectors when the revenue income was unchanged. They also hit out at the government for not reducing unproductive expenses. The per capita debt and per capita tax per head in the State now stood at Rs.24, 685 crore.

In spite of the tall claims that the government was pro-farmer, the agriculture sector recorded a negative growth and declined by 13 per cent from 2005-06. Foodgrain output came down to 144 lakh tonnes as also the net sown area in the State. Similarly, the growth rate in the industrial sector came down from 13.2 per cent in 2005-06 to 0.22 per cent in 2008-09. Overall, the GSDP fell by nearly 6 per cent as it decreased from 10.24 per cent in 2005-06.

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