Hyderabad, February 20: Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam chief K. Chiranjeevi lambasted the government for failing to rein in spiralling prices and prioritising the projects taken up under Jalayagnam scheme.
Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, Mr. Naidu urged the government to control prices and observed that the irrigation projects would not be completed even over the next 50 years. Alleging misappropriation of funds under Jalayagnam, he said although Rs.50,000 crore was spent so far, the ayacut had increased only by 50,000 acres.
Centre blamed
Faulting the government for taking up works without setting priorities, the TDP leader said that nearly Rs.3 lakh crore would be required to complete all the irrigation projects.
He also faulted the Centre for not coming to the rescue of the State in completing the projects. Referring to the glut in production of tomatoes, he wanted the setting up of a market intervention fund to help the producers in such situations.
Mr. Naidu said the Congress came to power when there was an economic boom, aided by good rains in successive years, but failed to make use of the opportunity. In spite of the huge increase in the government’s income, taxation was highest in AP, compared with other States and the administration was getting Rs.12,000 crore through excise alone this year.
Although the taxes were hiked, the debts did not decrease.
The economy had collapsed and the government was not in a position to take up development and welfare programmes. He urged the government to consult experts, publish white papers and put the economy back on the rails.
Mr. Chiranjeevi urged the government to provide relief to the common man who has been badly hit by the price rise.
He hit out at the government for not sanctioning the bills of the SHGs that have been implementing the mid-day meal scheme.
–Agencies