CM to give a final shape to state budget today

HYDERABAD: The state government is likely to give a final shape to the budget proposals for the year 2011-12 on Friday. According to top sources, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will hold a meeting with the finance minister A Ramanarayan Reddy and indicate his priorities.
Though the broad budget proposals are ready, no final shape was given to it as chief minister Kiran Kumar was busy in Rachchabanda programme and had not indicated his preferences except for saying that it should be welfare-oriented.
According to sources, the chief minister has indicated that he wants to emulate former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and give top priority to the development of his home district Chittoor in general and his constituency Piler in particular. He is also said to be of the opinion that a special board for developing his constituency on the lines YSR had for Pulivendula in Kadapa district be created. Interestingly, this budget would be the first-ever budget for Kiran and his finance minister A Ramanarayana Reddy.
The budget session of the state assembly is likely to commence from February 17 and the budget will be presented on February 23 or 24th. According to sources, the budget will give top priority to welfare schemes like the Indiramma housing scheme, Abhayahastam, pensions, ration cards, fee reimbursement, Arogyasri and other welfare schemes which have been designed to be implemented on saturation basis.
While a hike of about 10%-15% increase in the allocations for welfare schemes is certain, irrigation on record will continue to be get the highest allocation of about 16,500 crore or so. But the government would release the funds depending upon the progress of the works as it had been doing during the current financial year.
The chief minister is understood to have directed the officials not to release any money for this sector during January and February and instead Rs 1200 crore out of that has been diverted for implementing the Rachchabanda programme.