Naidu to Meet Modi before State Budget

The government wants to improve capital expenditure and bring down the revenue expenditure to reduce burden on the exchequer.

HYDERABAD: In the wake of poor allocations made to Andhra Pradesh in the Union budget for 2015-16, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is planning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before presenting the State budget in the State Assembly on March 12.

“Naidu has already sought an appointment with the Prime Minister. He is also planning to call on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi to inform both Modi and Jaitley about the injustice meted out to AP in the Union budget. Naidu is likely to visit Delhi either on Saturday or Monday,” said sources.

Sources further added that though the Chief Minister is expected to give a final shape to the State budget on Tuesday when he will hold a key meeting with the officials of the finance department here, Naidu wants to fine-tune the budgetary proposals after his proposed visit to Delhi.

Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the poor allocations made to AP and said the paltry allocations would have a bearing on the State budget.

“We have to reset our priorities in the State budget as there were insufficient allocations to AP in the Union budget,” he said.

According to him, there is a need to set up mechanisms to generate revenues for the cash-starved State. The government wants to improve capital expenditure and bring down the revenue expenditure to reduce burden on the exchequer.

Speaking to reporters at the secretariat here, Ramakrishnudu said the State government would be introducing a budget of over Rs 1 lakh crore on March 12 in the Assembly, which is likely to be in session from March 7 to 27.

Stating that the government would present a zero-based budget for 2015-16, the Finance Minister said the zero-based budget would make the process more efficient where allocations are based on works completed.

Stating that his government is giving top priority to agriculture, the Finance Minister said a separate agriculture budget would be introduced on March 13 in both the Houses of the State Assembly. Ramakrishnudu said he is planning to introduce a separate sub-plan for the welfare of BCs on the lines of SC/ST sub-plan in the State budget.

With a view to attracting more investments to the reorganised State, he is preparing the budget in an investor-friendly manner, he added.

Separate Agri Budget

  •  AP Assembly’s budget session to begin on March 7
  •  Governor ESL Narasimhan to address both Houses at 8.55 am on March 7
  •  Yanamala Ramakrishnudu to introduce State budget on March 12
  •  Agriculture minister P Pulla Rao to present separate budget for agriculture on March 13.

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