Andhra CM to present budget assembly today

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the state's annual budget for 2010-11 today.

According to sources, the budget will have an outlay of Rs 1.08 lakh crore-thus making it the third successive budget with over Rs one lakh crore outlay.

Last July, Rosaiah presented a Rs 1.03-lakh crore budget, with a fiscal deficit Rs 16,162 crore. But various factors like the global economic downturn, droughts, floods and also political turmoil resulted in an over Rs 8,000 crore revenue shortfall.

This has impacted the expenditure under various heads, including the governments flagship programmes like Jalayagnam.

Bracing up to foil any attempt by the students Joint Action Committee to lay siege of the Assembly coinciding with the Budget presentation, the police have made elaborate security arrangements.

Large contingents of paramilitary forces have been deployed around the Assembly building. Even pedestrians would not be allowed towards the Assembly except those on official duty. (ANI)