AP targets 9 per cent growth in 11th plan

Hyderabad, Feb 12 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government has targetted to achieve an overall growth of nine per cent during 11th plan (2007-12) by attaching much importance to agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors, Governor Rameshwar Thakur said today.

Delivering his customary address to the State Assembly on the first day of the Budget session, he said the Government targetted an agricultural growth of four per cent, industrial growth of 9.5 per cent and services sector growth of 11 per cent during the period.

Referring to Memoranda of Understanding signed with Industry majors, including setting up a Textile park in Nellore with participation by the South India Mills Assocation and Leather Park in Visakhapatnam with participation by the Sri Lankan Apparel gaint BRANDIX, he said Visakhapatnam Steel Plant was being expanded at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore. As much as 8963 MW power generation capacity would be added during the Eleventh Plan, he added.

Regarding Information and Communication Technology, he said the Software exports from the state, which had increased from Rs 8,270 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 12,521 crore in 2005-06, were slated to go up to Rs 19,000 crore during the current year, registering a growth rate of more than 50 per cent for the second successive year.

This sector would grow in a holistic manner in and around Hyderabad and also in tier II cities with new ICT policy, the Governor claimed.

Making it clear that his Government would not allot wetland for Special Economic Zones unless it was absolutely warranted, the Governor said unlike other states, Andhra Pradesh with a large geographical area of 2.75 lakh Sq KM and allocation to SEZs would not go beyond 1.50 lakh acres, which was only 0.24 per cent of total land mass.

Attributing the rural distress to deceleration witnessed in the farm sector growth since mid-1990s, the Governor said his Government had provided healing touch to the distressed farmers by offering free power, a financial package for families of those ryots, who had committed suicide with Central assistance of Rs 9,650 crore, waiver of overdue power charges, interest reductions, debt moratorium and setting up of helplines.

The cumulative impact of measures like bringing additional 12 lakh acres under irrigation, doubling of farm credit in the last two and a half years, had been reflected in the highest-ever foodgrain productivity during this year.

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