Development Agenda for KCR,Challenges Ahead for Naidu
HYDERABAD: An air of bonhomie prevailed at Raj Bhavan as the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh joined the Ugadi celebrations hosted by Governer ESL Narasimhan on Thursday. The Chief Ministers of the sister states K Chandrasekhar Rao (TS) and N Chandrababu Naidu (AP) wished all Telugu citizens a year of prosperity with bountiful rains.
For both the CM’s, this Durmukhi Naama Samvatsaram, the 30th year in the Hindu cycle of 60, has many challenges and milestones to offer. For Chandrasekhar Rao, the flagship programmes like Mission Bhagiratha, two bedroom houses and Mission Kakatiya will be the focal point of his administration in the new year.
If everything goes well, many villages in the drought-prone state will get piped water supply through Mission Bhagiratha. The scheme to provide safe and piped drinking water to the residents of Medak and Rangareddy districts by April end is the state government’s ‘Durmukhi’ gift for its people.
Further, more farmers are likely to get irrigation water due to the redesigning of projects. The government wants to complete at least a couple of projects like Bhakta Ramadas Lift Irrigation and others within the next six months.
More Jobs to Youth
The state government, which has already filled several technical posts in Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya, is likely to issue a notification for filling up of around 10,000 teacher posts in government schools this year. With the state attracting 1,600 industries and half of them expected to start their commercial operations soon, the employment prospects for local youths would get a boost.
The government is also planning to complete all pending irrigation projects in 2016-17, which will create an irrigation potential (IP). The state aims to complete eight projects and partially commission 11 projects in 2016-17 to create a new ayacut of about 7,32,264 acres.
Flow of Funds
As the Centre has relaxed the FRBM norms, the State can borrow an additional Rs.3,000 crore this financial year. As the growth rate of the State is satisfactory, the efforts to borrow Rs.40,000 crore for Mission Bhagiratha and Rs.60,000 crore for the development of Hyderabad may be fruitful.
Harmony with Neighbours
Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao has initiated steps to create harmony with neighbouring states. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to visit Hyderabad in the first month of Durmukhi itself and sign an MoU allowing the State to construct Tummadi Hatti and Medigadda projects.
Weak Opposition
Rao sits pretty when it comes to the point of opposition. The opposition parties are still finding it difficult to have a foothold as they are continously suffering setbacks in elections.
Scenario in AP
For Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, it is tough time as he has to take forward the construction of Amaravati and seek support from the Centre to steady the state economy. Naidu wants the Centre to chip in and help AP to construct the Polavaram project, which was accorded a national status.
Another issue is the fight to get special category status to AP, and source funds for the construction of Amaravati, the new capital of the bifurcated state. Naidu, however, can look at positive things too this year. One thing that might get a smile on his face is the weakening opposition.
With the opposition YSRC MLAs defecting to TDP one after the other, Naidu might not find the opposition troublesome anymore. While the opposition might be trying hard to put its flock together, Naidu is slowly projecting his son Nara Lokesh as his heir apparent.