YSR vows to ensure all-round development of AP

Hyderabad, Aug 15: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today rededicated himself to adopt a 'multipronged' strategy to ensure all-round development of the state.

Unfurling the national flag at the Parade Grounds here, the Chief Minister said his Government was committed to realise Mahatma Gandhi's vision of good governance and Swaraj in each and every village by making sacrifices and overcoming all hurdles in the path of development.

Dr Reddy, who inspected an impressive parade by the police, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides at the grounds over which the police had thrown a security blanket, asserted that his Government would make no comprise in curbing Naxalism and communalism.

Stating that the economy was in a shambles when the Congress took over the reins of administration, he said the fact that the state by adhering to fiscal discipline had achieved 8.34 per cent growth in State Gross Domestic product in 2005-06, was a testimony to the progress the state witnessed during in the last two years.

Recalling the devastations caused by the floods in the state, he made a reference to the visits of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as also Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and release of immediate central assistance of Rs 400 crore for relief work.

''Though a lot has been done by the Government, but still more has to be done,'' the Chief Minister said.

Noting that lakhs of cusecs of water was going unutilised into the sea as the previous Government did not take up a few of the major irrigation projects Dr Reddy said irrigation water would be ensured to one crore acres of land, besides adding 1800 MW hydel power capacity. He listed various steps taken by his Government, including provision of free power, waiver of power bills, mortorium on collection of loans, setting up a WTO cell to uplift the distressed farmers.

The Congress Government would shortly come out with a comprehensive land acquisition policy to ensure fair deal to all those who would be displaced by any project, he promised.

Referring to various welfare projects named after the Nehru-Gandhi family, he said the Government would ensure saturation of all basic amenities, including housing under the ''INDIRAMMA'' scheme in next three years, provide 3,500 crore credit linkage to women self-help groups under the ''Indira Kranthi Pathakam,'' and usher in urban development under the Jawharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

''Through the Jawahar Knowledge Centres, training would be provided to youth belonging to weaker sections for gainful employment in industries,'' he said, adding three lakh jobs would be created in the private sector during the next three years promoting various industries, including Information Technology and other IT-enabled services in a big way.

The state had achieved 51 per cent growth in IT exports during 2005-06, he said and added that a target had been set to achieve software exports worth Rs 69,000 crore.

UNI