Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K
Rosaiah on Sunday said that every programme started and announced
by late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would be
continued with more vigour and dedication.
Extending his greetings and best wishes to the people on
the eve of Vijayadasami festival, the chief minister said it
was time that all sections of people rededicate themselves
to realise the dream cherished by Reddy to make Andhra Pradesh
number one state in all sectors.
"On this festive occasion, here is my promise that the
vast number of ongoing schemes and projects would be continued
and the programmes contemplated would be taken up,
notwithstanding the financial constraints."
He said the state government had requested the Centre to
declare Polavaram and six other major irrigation projects as
national projects. While Polavaram was all set to get the
national project status, the Centre had responded positively
on other projects. Similarly, the government had taken up
micro irrigation project on a large scale to provide water to
5,40,800 acres in the state.
"We are expecting a huge loan of over Rs 8,547 crore from
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for micro
irrigation projects. Every irrigation project will be
completed in right earnest, there should be no doubt on this,"
he added.
The chief minister said all other schemes and programmes
such as supply of rice to poorer sections at Rs 2 a kg, free
power supply to farmers, fee reimbursements for students
belonging to weaker sections, social security pensions,
Aarogyasri and Abhayahastham, initiated by Reddy would be
continued without any hassles.
"With cooperation from all sections, I am confident that
I will be able to carry forward all these schemes," he said.
Rosaiah said that despite severe drought in about 1,000
mandals, his government was taking all measures to overcome
the crisis. Alternative crops were taken up in all the
drought-hit areas; drinking water supply in both urban and
rural areas was streamlined and fodder cultivation was taken
up in several areas.
"We are also making efforts to control the prices through
effective market intervention programmes," he said.
He also allayed apprehensions about the implementation of
Aarogyasri Scheme. "In fact, we are planning to expand its
scope further by bringing government and retired employees
also into the scheme. It will ensure absolute cashless
treatment for any disease in any corporate networked hospital
of their choice and free out-patient consultation. They will
also be eligible for free ambulance service," he said.
On the outbreak of swine flu, Rosaiah said the government
had also included H1N1 flu treatment in the Aarogysri scheme.
"We have added more ventilators and isolated rooms to
more hospitals to treat the dreaded disease. We have also
taken up awareness campaign and stocking more medicines like
Tamiflu to treat the patients," he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, October 05, 2009, 10:57