Govt prog mainly on rural development, agriculture

Hyderabad, Feb 10: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has said state government had taken up the various programmes mainly focussed on rural development and irrigation to improve the agricultural production.

Speaking at a book release function here, Dr Reddy said the government had taken up the ''Jalayagnam'' with a view to provide irrigation water to one crore acres of land at a cost of Rs 1,00,000 crore in a phased manner.

He said for the last 16 years the state had witnessed drought and floods were resulting in loss of agricultural production. The government had taken up measures to improve infrastructure in rural areas and agricultural sector.

He said the agricultural production during this year was 150 lakh tonnes as against 169 lakh tonnes last year.

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah who released the Telugu version of the book on 'irrigation projects' in the state written by Tirumala prominent Journalist Surender said the state government had taken up 30 new irrigation projects and is proposed to complete seven to eight ongoing projects in the state.

He said the government had been increasing the budget allocation for irrigation projects every year. It earmarked Rs 10,040 crore during 2006-07 as against Rs 6,350 crore in 2005-06 and Rs 3,350 crore in 2004-05.

Mr Surender had given details of the irrigation projects taken up by the government and its results in his book.

UNI