Economic Survey Report predicts robust growth

Hyderabad, Feb 18 (UNI) The Economic Survey Report tabled in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today predicted a robust 10.37 per cent economic growth for the state in 2007-08.

The Report tabled by Finance Minister K Rosaiah suggested that the agriculture sector would grow at 9.76 per cent, the industry sector by 8.26 per cent and service sector by 11.57 per cent in the current fiscal.

It pointed out that the growth during the 10th plan in the state was 7.42 per cent and ''the state confidently targetted 9.5 per cent annual growth during the Eleventh plan period''.

Giving thrust to the massive 'Jalayagnam' (irrigation project), envisaging 66 projects at a cost of Rs 1,00,454 crore, the report said an additonal 80 lakh acre of land would be brought under irrigation during the 11th plan.

It said the state planned to add a whooping 14,000 MW of power generation capacity during the 11th plan to achieve 12 per cent growth in the power sector.

On National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the report said 37.83 lakh households were benefitted in 2007-08 by generating 58.22 lakh person days withih an investment of Rs 1,304 crore.

The capital expenditure, which was Rs 7,662 crore in 2005-06, went up to Rs 9,904 crore during 2006-07. Interest payments against government debt also went up from Rs 7,008 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 7,279 crore in 2006-07, it added.

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