Hyderabad, February 24: The allocations made in the budget for irrigation and energy sectors, two key segments which have a major bearing on State’s development, are such that the government may not able to complete the 43 prioritised Jalaygnam projects during the next two years as planned, and supply power to consumers without problems.
The allocation to Jalaygnam was enhanced steadily over the last five years in view of the need to complete the projects and avoid long gestation. It was fixed at Rs. 13,200 crore in 2007-08 and Rs. 16,500 crore the next year and taken to a peak of Rs. 17,800 crore in 2009-10.
When there was, indeed, a need to provide a higher amount for the programme, it was slashed to Rs. 15,011 crore in 2010-11. And now, the Kiran Kumar Reddy government has provided Rs. 15,010 crore which is less than that of 2010-11.
Sources in the Irrigation Department said a part of this sum would “vanish” due to hike in material costs while another fraction would be used to clear the arrears due to the companies against the works implemented (over Rs 3,700 crore).
Consequently, only a meagre amount will be available for distribution to the 43 projects which, however, still require huge sums even after partial completion. Even with a month to go before the closure of the current fiscal, the spending out of the 2010-11 budget has not exceeded 60 per cent so far, a clear sign of the slackness.
Under the circumstances, it will be next to impossible for the government to complete the 43 projects—and all of them are giant ones–and bring an extra 30 lakh acres under cultivation during the next two years.
The projects that will face the crunch will be Pulichintala, Vamsadhara II, Bhoopathipalem, Venkatanagaram in Andhra; Yellampalli, Sriramsagar II, Flood Flow Canal, Bhima, Kalawakurthy, Devadula, Gaddennavagu in Telangana; and Hundri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari and Telugu Ganga in Rayalaseema.
The announcement that efforts are on to get national status for Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella is received as mere reiteration.
Likewise, the Finance Minister enhanced the allocation to energy sector to Rs. 4,980 crore from the current year’s Rs. 4,500 crore, a Rs 480 crore hike, but with this sum, the AP Transco will be able to buy power from external sources only to some extent, if shortage arises.
-Agencies