AP Asks Centre to Allocate More K-G Basin Gas

Intro
State plans to add an additional 17,126 MW power generation in the 12th Plan to overcome power crisis

Express News Service
Hyderabad: The state government on Thursday proposed to add an additional 17,126 MW power generation in the 12th Five Year Plan to overcome the power crisis. The state also demanded more allocation of gas to the state in the K-G basin.
Addressing the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held in Delhi on Thursday, the finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy presented the proposals and requests on behalf of the state government. He said that the state is expecting 8 to 9 per cent growth in energy generation.
"Absence of transmission corridor connectivity in the southern region and non-availability of LNG importing terminal on the east coast made the situation more complex, restricting the alternative attempts to handle power shortage,” he said.
The finance minister further explained that the power companies which came forward to set up plants were assured gas from the K-G basin but could not be provided with necessary fuel and that resulted in about 10,000 MW capacity lying idle, while other states had a fair share of gas.”
He wanted the Central government to usher in a shift in the policy in fuel allocation by providing more of domestic gas produced in KG basin to companies in Andhra Pradesh that were earlier assured of the fuel and to encourage the states in the Western region to use more of LNG in lieu of the K-G gas.
The finance minister has also requested the Centre to initiate the phase-2 of the JNNURM for tier-2 and tier-3 cities, which are the top destination targets for migration from the rural areas.
He also wanted the Centre to increase the number of wage days under MGNREGS from 150 days to 200 days to benefit the non-agricultural labourers.
Under education sector, the finance minister wanted the Centre to provide furniture and necessary lab equipment under the SSA and RMSA.
Ramanarayana Reddy requested the Centre to provide financial support for establishing medical colleges under government sector and also to improve infrastructure facilities in the medical colleges established by the state government.


GARLAND ROAD: All the eight inter-sate border districts of the state adjoining Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra which continue to face the risk of relapse into extremism have now been included under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), said the finance minister. He requested the Centre to accord sanction for 'Garland Road' (development of connectivity) proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 1, 607 crore to develop an infrastructure corridor at a length 1,500 km bordering the left wing extremism (LWE) states.

Other Highlights:
* SC and ST sub-plan: The state is expecting that an amount of over Rs 55,000 crore would be earmarked for SCs and an amount of over Rs 22,500 crore for the tribals under sub-plans in 12th plan.

*Poverty: The poverty head count ratio from over 29 during 2004-05 has been reduced to 21 in 2009-10. The state expects Poverty Head Count ratio to come further down to 12 by the end of 12th Plan.

*AP Tall: As per the 12th plan draft document, AP stands tall among all the states and Union territories with the largest projected outlay of over Rs 3,42,842 crore for the 12th Plan. It is two times more than the State’s financial achievement during 11th Plan.

*Growth Targets: Agriculture 6%, industry 10.5% and 11.5% for services leading to an overall growth target of 10% for the 12th plan.