AP Budget higher than that of Bangladesh: CM

Hyderabad, Feb 16 (UNI) The Rs 1.05 lakh crore budget for 2008-09 presented in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today, was not only the largest in the country, but also ''more than even that of Bangladesh'', according to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Hailing Finance Minister K Rosaiah and his team for presenting the highest-ever budget in the history of Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister told reporters that AP had also posted the highest state plan in the country in the last two years, and expected to continue to lead in the proposed budget also.

The size of the budget for the state in 2006-07 was Rs 56,309.86 crore and Rs 79856.74 crore the next year. The 2008-09 budget was estimated at Rs 1.057 lakh crore and was likely to generate Rs 134 crore in revenue surplus and an overall cash balance of Rs 120.17 crore by March 31 next year.

''I have been told that this is even higher than Bangladesh,'' the Chief Minister quipped.

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