Rajasekhara welcomes Governor's joint address

Hyderabad, Feb 11 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today welcomed Governor N D Tiwari's joint address to the state legislature, saying it reflected the development works in the state during the last four years.

Addressing a press conference along with Legislature Affairs Minister K Rosaiah, he said the state was poised to achieve a double- digit annual economic growth rate of 10.37 per cent as against the national growth rate of 8.7 per cent for the year 2007-08.

He said the state was confident of achieving the target of nine per cent annual growth rate in the overall economy with a sub-target of 4.5 per cent for agriculture for the 11th five-year plan.

Dr Reddy said the total revenue to GDP, which was 13.90 per cent during 1998-2004, had increased to 16.41 per cent during 2004-08.

Similarly, the state's own taxes recorded an average annual growth rate of 21.83 per cent during 2004-08 as against 12.22 per cent during 1998-2004.

As a result of substantially improved fiscal management, the state was able to step up the Plan expenditure from Rs 10,776.60 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 30,013.54 crore in 2007-08.

He said his government had given priority to education, health, and infrastructure development, and had also taken steps to create employment opportunities.

Deploring the attitude of TRS members and TDP leaders during the Governor's address, Mr Rosaiah said it was not good on the part of the TRS members to tear the copy of the Governor's speech and the running commentary made by the TDP members.

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