SC/STs not given due share in AP Budget: TDP leader

Hyderabad, Feb 27 (UNI) TDP Legislator D Narendra Kumar today alleged that the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Minorities were not provided their due share in the over Rs one lakh crore Budget presented by Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah.

Winding up the discussion on the budget in the State Assembly, the TDP leader disputed the government's claim that the common man was not taxed and maintained that the government filled the state exchequer with Rs 5,000 crore, secured from the sale of liquor.

Alleging that corruption was rampant in the implementation of various projects, including major irrigation schemes, he claimed that even after spending Rs 35,000 crore, the area of irrigated land reduced to 16.22 lakh hectares from 16.49 lakh hectares during 2000-01.

Contending that farmers were not getting remunerative price for their produce, he demanded immmediate implementation of the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Committee and the Jayati Gosh Committee.

It was unfortunate that the Budget was ''silent'' on waiver of interest on loans taken by farmers, he noted.

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