Hyderabad, November 02: Without mentioning the ongoing separate Telangana agitation in his address at the 54th Andhra Pradesh State Formation Day celebrations at NTR Stadium here on Monday, chief minister K Rosaiah said he wished for prevalence of peace and prosperity in all the three regions (Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana) of the state and all sections of the society.
“I promise you (people) that my government will make relentless efforts to ensure state’s continuous growth and weaker sections’ welfare. We will achieve them successfully through good governance,” he said in his 25-minute speech after unfurling the national flag.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Rosaiah said, “Peace cannot be achieved through fights. But hatred can be won with love. One should spread love among others to live a peaceful life.”
Rosaiah remarked that the state’s progress was hit due to drought, floods, communal riots, regional agitations and tensions, death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, etc during the last financial year.
However, the state started progressing again in the current financial year and recorded 25.5 percent increase in revenue earnings in the last six months as compared to the same period last year.
Still efforts are being made to reach the targets. “I am confident that the desire and commitment will definitely yield positive results.”
Highlighting the achievements and decisions taken by his government, the chief minister announced release of Rs 268 crore to compensate losses (estimated at Rs 699 crore) incurred by farmers due to floods and drought during Kharif 2009.
Works are under progress to complete 55 new small irrigation schemes to create an additional ayacut of about 17 lakh hectares.
Setting up of model schools in 737 mandals under CSS scheme, filling of 580 civil assistant surgeon specialist posts in Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, establishment of 4,224 major industries with an investment of Rs 81,444 crore and employment to 10 lakh people till March 2010, employment to 12,000 through 74 major industries in 2009-10, 836 MW of power production this year, IT export target of Rs 70,000 crore by 2015, 126 new hostels for SC students, 32 lakh ‘Indiramma’ houses as against a total of 64 lakhs, conduct of Kakatiya Festival in 2013, Rajiv Arogyasri and Pavala Vaddi loans were on government’s agenda, he claimed.
Ministers D Nagender, M Mukesh Goud, Sunita Laxma Reddy, A Ramanarayana Reddy and S Vijayarama Raju, mayor B Karthika Reddy, chief secretary SV Prasad, DGP K Aravind Rao and others attended.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister paid floral tributes to Potti Sriramulu at the ‘Amarajeevi’ statue near the Secretariat.
He praised the sacrifices of the late leader and termed the sacrifice of his life for the people of Telugu as invaluable.
Later, he garlanded the Telugu Talli statue to mark the occasion.
–Agencies