Half of Domestic Consumers Spared of Tariff Hike: APERC

Express News Service
Hyderabad: Despite a steep hike in domestic power charges, officials of the power utility claimed on Saturday that almost 50 per cent of domestic consumers were spared from tariff hike.
According to officials, there is no change in the power tariff for low-tension (LT) domestic consumers who consume 50 units or less in a month. The tariff for them remains the same at Rs 1.45 per unit. "It will benefit around 97.4 lakh consumers who are almost 50 per cent of the total consumers under domestic category," an official claimed after the APERC released the tariff order.
LT agricultural consumers will get seven- hour free supply which will benefit 30.7 lakh consumers.
The Aggregate Revenue Requirement for all four Discoms is Rs 40,639 crore. The total energy requirement approved by the APERC is 89,845 million units for 2013-14. The total sales approved by the ERC for the year is 77,410 million units.
The average cost of service (CoS) approved by APERC for 2013-14 is Rs 5.25 per units against Rs 4.44 per unit in 2012-13. This implies an increase of 18 per cent (81 paise per unit).   The Discoms will get a revenue of Rs 28,996 crore with the revised power tariff in the year.
The revenue increase in power tariff is Rs 6,173 crore, which is 21 per cent increase in total tariff compared to previous year.
To reduce the power cuts, an additional power availability of 2,430 million units in four peak months is expected from gas-based power plants with RLNG and another 8,841 million units from short-term sources during the peak months.

Average Hike per Unit
* Domestic consumers: Rs 0.58 
* HT consumers: Rs 1.12
* LT commercial: Rs 1.13
* LT industrial: Rs 0.63
* HT industrial: Rs 0.93

For APERC, a Separate Kitchen is Non-domestic

Express News Service
    Hyderabad: Do you have a separate kitchen in your house? Then you will not come under domestic power category. If you have a separate kitchen in your house the kitchen will be treated a separate establishment in power billing.     
The power used for kitchen will be treated as a non-domestic use and such power will attract higher tariff. The Andhra Pradesh Energy Regulatory Commission (APERC) gave a new definition for domestic power connection on Saturday in its tariff orders.
"This tariff (domestic poewr tariff) is applicable for supply of electricity for lights and fans and other domestic purposes to domestic premises.
Domestic establishment/premises is one which is used for dwelling/residential purpose. For domestic category, the households having a separate kitchen will be treated as a separate establishment," the APERC said in its orders.
The kitchen will be treated as a non-domestic category and attracts higher power tariff.
As per the order, the power consumed for kitchen will be charged Rs 5.40 for LT2(A) consumers up to 50 units. Those who consume more than 50 units will automatically comes under LT2(B). Under this category, the charges up to 50 units will Rs 6.63, 51-100 Rs 7.38, 101-300
Rs 8.13, 301-500 Rs 8.63 and above 500 units it will be Rs 9.13 per unit. Besides this a monthly fixed charges of Rs 50 and a monthly minimum charges of Rs 65 for single phase and Rs 200 for three phase will be collected.


ends

APERC’s power shocker spares only farmers

 By VV Balakrishna | ENS - HYDERABAD

31st March 2013 08:39 AM

The worst fears of power consumers have come true. The middle class and the rich class have received a rude shock in the form of new power tariff, which will come into force from April 1. Only the poorest of the poor are spared from the power tariff hike, that too if they consume only 50 units or below per month. Not only domestic consumers but also the industries, poultry, prawn farmers and cottage industries too are burden with heavy power tariff. No category of consumers, except farmers, are spared in the revised tariff.
  The AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) issued orders for the new power tariff for 2013-14. However, the ERC rejected the Discoms' proposal for non-telescopic billing. The ERC wanted to continue the existing telescopic billing for domestic consumers. But, this is only a minor relief for domestic consumers. There is a considerable hike in tariffs and slabs.
  The Discoms' proposed a whopping Rs 12,700 crore additional burden  on the consumers, the ERC approved only Rs 6,500 crore hike. As the telescopic billing system is continued, the burden is lessened on consumers. The ERC also refused the proposal of the Discoms for spending more on gas-based power plants with a hope that there will be sufficient rains this year. In such a case, there will be no need to spend more money gas-based power generation. This has reduced Rs 6,200 crore burden on consumers.
  The domestic consumers who are charged in two categories LT1(A) and LT1(B) are reclassified. The six slabs under LT1(A), whose connected load was 500 MW are reduced to only one slab irrespective of their connected load. If the LT1(A) consumers, who are mostly the poor, consume more than 50 units in a month, will automatically converted into LT1(B) category to pay more power bills.
 Under LT1(B) domestic category the present six slabs are now increased to nine slabs. The minimum charge under this category is increased from the present Rs 1.45 per unit to Rs 2.60 per unit. If the domestic consumers consume more than 500 units in a month the rate for the slab is Rs 8.38 per unit.

HIDDEN CHARGES: Besides, the steep hike in power tariff there will be more hidden charges in the monthly bills. The minimum energy charge for single phase consumers with connected load of 500 watts will be Rs 25 per month. If the contracted load in more than 500 watts, the minimum charge per month is Rs 50 for single phase consumers and Rs 150 per month for three-phase consumers. It means that if the consumer did not use any power in a month, still he/she should pay the minimum charges.
CUSTOMER CHARGES: Besides, minimum charges, the domestic consumers have to pay customer charges every month. If the consumption is less than 50 units the consumer charge will be Rs 25, if the consumption is between 51-100 units it will be Rs 30, for 101-200 units it will be Rs 35, for 201-300 units it will be Rs 40 and if the consumption is more than 300 units in a month the customer charge will be Rs 45 per month.

PENALTY: If the payment of power bill is delayed penalty will be levied. If consumer made payment after due date, the consumers are liable to pay Delayed Payment Surcharge (DPS) per month on the bill amount. For LT1(A) consumers the DPS is Rs 10 per month and for LT1(B) consumers it will be Rs 25.
RECONNECTION CHARGES: If the consumers failed to pay bill in time and the power is disconnected, the reconnection charges will be Rs 25 for LT1(A) and for all other domestic and LT consumers will have to pay Rs 75 for overhead services and Rs 200 for UG services.


Graphic

Domestic LT1(A): There are six slabs. From April 1 there is only one slab. If consumers under this category consume more than 50 units will be converted to LT1(B) category.
 LT 1(A)       new tariff    old tariff
Up to 50 units    Rs 1.45       Rs 1.45 (no change)

---
LT1(B): There are currently six slabs. Which are increased to nine slabs now.


consumption     new tariff      old tariff
First 50 units   Rs 2.60          0-50 units Rs 1.45
 51-100          Rs 3.25         51-100  Rs 2.60
101-150          Rs 4.88         101-200 Rs 3.60
151-200          Rs 5.63         201-300 Rs 5.75
201-250          Rs 6.38         301-500 Rs 6.75
251-300          Rs 6.88         More than 500 units Rs 7.25
301-400          Rs 7.38         
401-500          Rs 7.88        
above 500        Rs 8.38       
-------------------------------------------
The LT-2 (A) non-domestic commercial three slabs are reduced to one
If they consume more than 50 units, they will be converted into LT-2(B) consumers

LT-2(A)           new tariff
up to 50 units     Rs 5.40

LT-2(B) Under this category the two slabs are increased to six slabs

                     new                   old   
Up to 50 units   - Rs 6.63       0-100 units Rs 6.00
51-100             Rs 7.38       more than 100 units Rs 7.00
101-300            Rs 8.13
301-500            Rs 8.63
Above 500          Rs 9.13
-------------------------
Advertisement hoarding     new        old
                        Rs 11.03    Rs 9.00

------
Industries                6.08          5.00
Seasonal industries(off seasonal charges)   6.75          5.67
------
Pisciculture, Prawn culture   4.63      2.12
Poultry                       5.63      5.00
Railway traction             6.36      5.43

Cottage industries, dhobi ghats and others   3.75     2.67


ends

Tariff blow may be trimmed

By V V Balakrishna | ENS - HYDERABAD

28th March 2013 11:39 AM

A power tariff hike is impending next week, but it is likely to impose a burden of Rs 9,000 crore on consumers rather than Rs 13,000 crore, as proposed by the discoms.
Sources said the state government has communicated to the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) its intent to absorb part of the shock.
The regulator may pronounce its order either on March 28 or 30. As Friday and Sunday are holidays, the new tariff order may be issued on March 28 or 30.
According to sources, APERC is likely to reject the discoms’ proposal to revert to non-telescopic billing. It is said to want to continue with the present telescopic billing system.
“If APERC wants to continue with telescopic billing, the burden on consumers will be lessened by Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 core,” a source said.
The discoms proposed non-telescopic billing while filing their tariff proposals for 2013-14. In that system, consumers who use more power pay a higher rate. “There is stiff opposition to non-telescopic billing,” said a source in Transco.
In the telescopic system, for example, if a consumer uses 150 units of power, he pays Rs 1.45 per unit for the first 50 units, Rs 2.60 for the next 50 units and Rs 3.60 for next 50 units. But under the non-telescopic system, a consumer who uses 150 units will have to pay Rs 3.60 for the entire 150 units. Thus a consumer who uses 100 units per month currently and pays a bill of Rs 202.50 will have to shell out Rs 260 in the next financial year for the same 100 units.
If APERC wants to continue with telescopic billing, domestic consumers who use more than 100 units would have to pay more from April 1.
The discoms also proposed Rs 6,000 crore additional expenditure in order to purchase RLNG to produce power. They proposed this additional expenditure as they felt that there would be no water available in the major reservoirs. But APERC may reject this proposal.
In their Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARRs) proposals for 2013-14 submitted to APERC, the discoms reported a cost-to-service at around Rs 5.25 per unit.
Thus they expect a revenue deficit of Rs 18,000 crore for the next fiscal. However, factoring a government subsidy of Rs 5,700 crore, they are left with a deficit of around Rs 13,000 crore, which they wanted to pass on to the consumers.

Ministers, chief whip dump YSR, reveal his 'other side'

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

26th March 2013 12:06 PM

     Several ministers and the chief whip let the cat out of bag in the state Assembly on Monday. They almost disowned former chief minister the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy and revealed some ‘secrets’ about him. The ministers also heaped praises on Kiran Reddy and said he was performing better than YSR.
When nine-hour free power to farmers and free supply to SC and ST housing colonies were mentioned by the opposition members during a debate on the power situation, in the Assembly on Monday, the ministers came to the rescue of Kiran Reddy.
Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, chief whip: When I was an MLA, I have approached the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy with a request to raise a question on how the nine-hour free power supply to farmers would help them. But Rajasekhara Reddy refused to post the question. I immediately dropped it. Rajasekhara Reddy clearly told me that the nine-hour free power supply was not possible to implement in the near future.
DK Aruna, information minister: When I undertook a padayatra in Mahbubnagar district in 2003 for early completion of irrigation projects, the then opposition leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy participated in it. He decided to go on a padayatra after watching the tremendous response to my yatra. Reddy was inspired from my padayatra. No one knows this secret.
S Sailajanath, primary education minister: I too asked YS Rajasekhara Reddy to waive the power bills of SC and ST colonies, which was around Rs 100 crore. But, he wanted them to bear at least 50 percent and the remaining 50 percent would be borne by the government. Rajasekhara Reddy also opposed free power to SC and ST households.
Kondru Murali Mohan, medical education minister: When Rajasekhara Reddy was chief minister, I had approached him with a request to give free power of at least 100 units per month to SC and ST colonies. SCs do not have land holdings. As the government is giving free power to farmers, SCs and STs were not getting any benefit. I requested Rajasekhara Reddy to supply free power to them. But, he rejected the proposal. Narrating another incident, Murali said when the government was giving only Rs 25,000 under the weaker sections housing scheme, I have requested Rajasekhara Reddy to enhance the amount. But, he did not enhance the amount for two years. I have raised the issue in the CLP meeting. Now, Kiran Reddy hiked it to Rs 45,000.

Comments(3)

None of these people raised these issues when YSR was alive. Because they shared a part of the loot. Now that YSR is dead, and his son YSJ is out of the mafia, the Congress mafia is going after the separate YSR mafia. So much for democracy in Congress.

Posted by Chandu at 03/26/2013 16:52 

We can expect more than this from the present congress ministers ( after all they are close friends now to the low tech Chnadra babu Naidu ( The back stabber) they are also doing the same thing to YSR what CBN done to his father in law ( NTR) earlier

Posted by Rama Bhaskar at 03/26/2013 17:56 

Congress politicians will sell Bharath Maatha to enemies if they see any kind of Profit in it. Congress politicians in AP are trying to become ministers/Union ministers and for Sonia's attention they will do any kind of dastardly act like chopping the hands that fed them, kicking the breasts that fed them milk as babies. Today's congress politicians are tomorrows's Tihar inmates.

Posted by Santosh at 03/27/2013 06:13  

 

ends

Power tariff hike likely from April

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

25th March 2013 11:08 AM

Once the the present session of the state Assembly is over, the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) is all set to give orders on tariff hike proposals. The new tariff is likely to come into effect from April 1.
Though the Discoms proposed to collect an additional Rs 12,000 cr from the new tariff, the APERC is likely to limit the hike to Rs 9,000 cr. The public hearing on tariff hike proposal was already conducted. Sources said as the Assembly session is on, the APERC may give its orders any time after the session ends on  March 26.
The state government had already told APERC that it would give a subsidy of Rs 5,700 cr this year. The discoms proposed non-telescopic billing system, which would compel the consumers to use less power.
The state is almost reeling in darkness with a deficit of 2,400 MW power supply daily. With non-availability of gas, all the 11 gas-based power plants with an installed capacity of 2,760 MW are lying idle now. However, the government is hopeful that small households and institutions would come forward to put up solar panels on their roof-tops under the proposed solar power generation policy. It is also planning to cover government buildings. Sources said the Centre would give a subsidy of 30 per cent to purchase solar panels to generate power up to 100 kw.

ECB code to be made mandatory for buildings

By V V Balakrishna | ENS - HYDERABAD

25th March 2013 09:26 AM

If you are moving into a new flat after April, you will have the choice of verifying the rating of the multi-storeyed apartment to know whether it is energy efficient or not. The buyers of flats can also check the ratings of the buildings whether they are energy efficient or not.
Commercial and multi-storeyed residential apartments will be given stars, to rate their energy efficiency. If you move into a five-star apartment, it means you save more energy. A single star is less in energy efficiency.
The new Energy Conservation Building (ECB) code is likely to come into force from April first week. Once it comes into existence, all the builders should invariably follow the ECB code. Architects will be trained to certify whether the new buildings are energy efficient or not and also give stars.
The ECB code is intended to minimise wastage of power in the present power-stressed times.
As per the ECB code, the builders should use only  specified materials like electric wires and other equipment. For example, if a multi-storeyed apartment builder fixes a non-standard motor to draw ground water, it would be rejected. He should comply with the ECB code and only fix ISI motor hereafter.
Likewise, he should also use solar water heaters and should have recycling mechanism for water. If the water wastage is minimised, the use of power will also reduce as the inmates of flats need not draw ground water again.
The ECB code will be applicable even to sectors like municipal administration, industry, agriculture and domestic. However, independent houses will be spared from the ECB code, sources said.
As part of making energy efficiency and energy conservation (EE&EC) measures mandatory in all the major building complexes that are going to come up in the state, like shopping malls, skyscrapers, the State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) is gearing up to notify the ECB code and make it mandatory, A Chandrasekhara Reddy, chief executive officer of the State Energy Conservation Mission has said.
The municipal officials have already conducted a meeting with the representatives of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), AP Real Estate Developers’ Association (APREDA) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The builders informed that they would follow the ECB code but the guidelines should be in a simpler language so that they could understand them easily.
The government estimated that around 25 per cent to 40 per cent energy could be saved in the major buildings coming up, if they complied with ECB code. The major elements of the ECB code includes building envelope, solar water heating systems, lighting systems, energy consumption monitoring systems and others.

Sick of power cuts? Then, produce your own!

By V V Balakrishna | ENS - HYDERABAD

22nd March 2013 07:44 AM

      Unable to bear the power cuts? Well, become a power producer and use your own power. If you are generous enough, you can give some power to the grid so that the government could supply it to industries and for agriculture.
The state government which failed to add to power generation capacity, is now passing on the responsibility to individual consumers.
As per a new initiative, willing consumers can use the space on their rooftops for fixing solar panels and produce their own electricity.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy announced the new scheme on Wednesday at the Legislative Council meeting. On Thursday, the chief minister visited the Vidyut Soudha rooftop solar power producing unit, set up on a pilot basis.
The rooftop solar unit of Vidyut Soudha will produce around 250 units per day, which is sufficient for the entire Vidyut Soudha. The production during holidays will flow into the grid. Supplying solar power to the grid is called net metering. The net metering facility is now adoptable by small power plants.
Net metering can be followed by consumers who intend to set up solar PV plants on rooftops, waste lands, individual household premises, industries, offices, educational institutions, hostels, commercial complexes and others.
The State government’s solar power initiative will enable the individual consumer to produce power on his own, utilise as per his requirement and sell the remaining power to discoms directly. The power transferred to the grid can be used by the consumer as a power bank. If the power produced by his solar panels does not fulfil the household requirements, extra power can be drawn from the grid. The power which was transferred to the grid earlier will be transferred back. If the power consumed is more than the power produced, charges have to be paid. If less power is utilised than the power given to the grid, then the consumers can get monetary benefit.
This will result in less load on the grid as the consumers will themselves produce and utilise power.
Once the new initiative comes into force, the power thus saved can be utilised for agriculture, industry and commercial purposes.

Comments(3)

If no politics is played the available energy sources of the Country can be optimally utilized.This needs a strong Technical Force.

Posted by K.Balasubramanian at 03/22/2013 09:16 Reply to this Report abuse

 

The initiative taken by the Govt of AP is appreciated. In the wake of frequent power cuts in the state, installation of roof top solar power systems has become inevitable. Ongrid power systems & Netmetering are the wonderful solutions for the masses. These initiatives are not likely to punch a hole in comman man's pocket. Present day's power requirement for a small family would be minimum 1 KW which would be adequate enough to run 4-5 fans, 6 lights. The cost of installating 1KW solar panel & power systems would be roughly Rs 2 lakhs . The rate net of subsidy would be around be around Rs 1 lakh. State Govt/Banks should come forward to help out middle/salaried class in securing this funds, so that, every one should draw maximum benefit of this solar power. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, roof top solar power evoked tremendous response from public. The State of AP is blessed with enormous solar power potential. Action by AP State Govt on war footing is necessary .

Posted by s venkataraman at 03/22/2013 09:29 Reply to this Report abuse

 

Our country is endowed with abundant solar power and also wasted in abundance. Let us harness this clean energy, perhaps in due course the initial installation cost could come down dramatically.

Posted by Suresh Naig at 03/22/2013 13:05 Reply to this Report abuse

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31 pc Fall in Excise Revenue

Express News Service


Hyderabad: The state's revenue from the excise department has been estimated to be 31.69 per cent less in 2013-14 than in 2012-13. The government estimated Rs 7,500 crore in 2013-14. It was Rs 10,500 crore in the 2012-13 budget.
Asked about the drastic fall in the excise revenue, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said: "You should feel good about it". He, however, did not elaborate whether the government would discourage  sale and consumption of liquor.
Though, the government constituted the 10th Pay Revision Commission (PRC), it did not show any hike in expenditure under the salary head. Sources said the PRC amount would be shown in next year's budget.


BUDGET AT A GLANCE

Head                  Amount (Rs in crore)          Increase in %


Total Budget          1,61,348                      10.62

Non-plan              1,01,926                      11.00

Plan                    59,422                       9.98




Revenue Receipts      1,27,772                       9.40

Share of central taxes  24,132                       9.87

CSS, other grants-in-aid   15,803                    5.71

Own tax revenue           72,443                     9.73

Sales tax               52,500                      16.66

Excise                   7,500                   -) 31.69

Stamps & registration     6,414                     29.11

Non-tax revenue         15,393                      11.12

Mines & Minerals        3,083                       12.80



Revenue Expenditure    1,26,749                      12.82

Non-plan                 92,506                      12.49

Plan                     34,244                      13.74

Revenue surplus           1,023

Total expenditure on capital and loan account  25,972    5

Fiscal deficit            24,487  (2.85% of GSDP)

GSDP                       8,58,959



NON-PLAN
Major items of expenditure under non-plan budget (Rs crore)

Head                  2012-13           2013-14

Salary                 30,598           34,997
Interest payments   12,226              14,519
Loan repayment       8,813               8,627
Pensions            11,480              14,209
Non-salary           3,512               3,434
Maintenance          1,797               1,796

Total Subsidies     12,692              13,301
Rice subsidy         3,000               3,000
Power subsidy        5,500               5,700


Department-wise allocations


Irrigation        15,013        13,804

Panchayat raj      5,885         6,914

Municipal Admn     4,876         5,137

Education          4,801         4,982

BC Welfare         2,656         3,632

Transport, R&B     3,210         3,511

Agriculture, Co-op   2,819       3,091

Social Welfare       1,719       3,077

Women & Child Welfare  2,282    2,702

Medical & Health       2,364     2,580

Housing               1,900    1,923

Tribal Welfare        1,013    1,516

Planning              1,143    1,241

Minorities Welfare      482    1,020

Youth and Culture       343      489

Animal Husbandry        504      454

Revenue                 399      375

IT                      148      204

Law                     102      102




Sub-plan       Rs in crore
SC             8,585
ST             3,666

ends

Per Capita Debt is Rs 21,258

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 18:
 Though Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy claimed that the per capita income was more than tripled in a span of nine years, the per capita debt too increased manifold.
  The debt on each person of the state as per the estimates of 2013-14 budget will be Rs 21,258 per every citizen. The total outstanding loans of the government is Rs 1,79,637.51 crore. The population of the state as per 2011 census is 8.4 crore. It means that the debt on each person is Rs 21,258.81.
 However, in his budget speech, the Finance Minister said that the per capita income was increased from Rs 25,321 in 2004 to Rs 77,277 by 2012-13. He said that it was reflecting a definite positive impact of the developmental programmes on the standard of living of the people.
 The socio-economic survey of 2012-13 presented to the Assembly on Monday stated: "interest payments against government debt had gone up from Rs 9,675 crore in 2010 to Rs 10,561 crore in 2011-12. The interest payment during 2011-12 increased by 9.15 per cent over previous year. The total outstanding debt by the end of March 2011-12 was Rs 1,35,646 crore, which comes to 20.70 per cent of the GSDP".
 However, the economic survey said that the State government was well within the limits of the outstanding debt of 27.6 per cent fixed in the APFRBM Act.

ends

Prices of Essentials Up, Foodgrain Output Down

Express News Service

Hyderabad: The living standards of people in the state have improved by and large, as per the socio-economic survey 2012-13 presented to the Assembly on Monday.
However, the prices of essential commodities increased. The survey said the average daily retail prices of rice, redgram and groundnut oil have shown an increase, whereas prices of tamarind, red chillies and onions have shown a decreasing trend from April to December 2012, when compared to the corresponding period last year.
LAND HOLDINGS: The average size of land holdings in the state declined to 1.08 hectares during 2010-11 from 1.20 hectares in 2005-06. The number of holdings has increased from 1.20 crore in 2005-06 to 1.32 crore in 2010-11.
However, the area under foodgrains is expected to be only 66.32 lakh ha in 2012-13 as against 72.89 lakh ha in 2011-12, showing a decline of 9.01 per cent. The total production of foodgrains in 2012-13 is expected to be 170.78 lakh tonne, while it was 184.02 lakh tonne in 2011-12, registering a decline of 13.24 lakh tonne (7.19 percent).
FIRST IN HORTICULTURE: The survey stated that Andhra Pradesh ranks first in the production of spices and fruits and third in the production of flowers in the country. AP ranked first in the production of citrus, papaya, oil palm and tomato; second in mango, cashew; third in loose flowers; and fourth in the production of banana in 2011.
The area under horticulture crops grew annually at the rate of 6 percent from 2001-02 to 2012-13 with the production growth being more impressive at 9.8 percent.
UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN: The unemployment rate decreased in the state from 1999-2000 to 2004-05 in both urban and rural areas.
The decline in urban unemployment from 39 to 36 points was sharper compared to rural unemployment from 8 to 7. The rural unemployment rate has however increased by five points from 7 in 2004-05 to 12 in 2009-10, whereas the urban unemployment rate decreased by five points from 36 to 31.
"The overall strategy for the 12th Plan should be to look beyond growth and focus on employment generation," the survey suggested.
LITERACY: Literacy rate in the state has witnessed an upward trend and is 67.66 per cent as per 2011 census. Of that, male literacy stands at 75.56 percent, while female literacy is at 59.74 percent. Literacy rate in AP stood at 60.47 percent in 2001, of which male and female literacy rates were 71.16 percent and 50.29 percent respectively. In actual numbers, total literates in AP are 5,14,38,510 of which 2,87,59,782 are male and 2,26,78,728 are female.

BLURB
Socio-economic survey suggests focus on employment generation

One-year Time Still to Keep 2 Promises

Express News Service

  Hyderabad: When finance minister Anam Ramanrayana Reddy had said two days ago that the 2013-14 budget would be in accordance with the Congress party's manifesto, it was expected that he would fulfil the party's two major assurances _ 6 kg rice per head for BPL families and nine-hour uninterrupted power supply to tillers _ which were mentioned in the 2009 election manifesto.
But, there was no mention of the two schemes in the Budget presented to the Assembly on Monday.
Asked about his reaction, the minister said that the government had time till 2014. In view of the severe shortage of power, he was unable to make an announcement on nine-hour power supply to the farm sector. Sources said that when the power situation improved by the end of this year, the government would announce the same in due course. The Congress was determined to fulfil its two major assurances before going to polls in 2014, the sources said.

New Schemes at a Glance

New Schemes at a Glance
Express News Service

Hyderabad: As it was an election budget, the state government introduced several new schemes. They are:
RAJIV DEEVENA:  To provide pre-matric scholarships to 3 lakh SC students. Day-scholars to get `150 per month and hostellers `350. An allocation of `115 crore was made in the budget for the scheme.
TELUGU BATA: The government will organise cultural festivals at the district-level in the state to promote Telugu language and culture. Allocation: `25 crore.
ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES:  As many as nine essential food items in a packaged form will be supplied from Uagadi. The basket of commodities includes wheat, wheat atta, sugar, redgram, palmolive oil, iodised salt, tamarind, chilli powder and turmeric. The benefit for each card holder is `1,284 per year and `660 crore was provided for the scheme.
NEW DIVISIONS: It is proposed to form 18 new revenue divisions and 52 urban mandals.
SOLAR HEATERS, PUMPSETS: It is proposed to encourage solar energy products like heaters in the domestic sector. The government earmarked `8 crore in the budget. Solar energy pumpsets will be provided to farmers. A provision of `30 crore was made in the budget estimates.
MARKET INTERVENTION FUND: To ensure minimum support price for crops like paddy, jowar, maize, ragi and pulses, the government proposed to create the Market Intervention Fund with `100 crore.
NATURAL CALAMITIES FUND: A fund with `589.04 crore will be created to provide immediate relief to farmers affected by natural calamities.
SERICULTURE: It is proposed to provide assistance for silk reeling in the form of subsidy. There will be interest subsidy (Pavala Vaddi) on working capital and incentives for private silk reelers for the raw silk produced.
FISHERIES: The fisheries database will be upgraded and a geographical information system (GIS) for the fisheries sector will be created. Online registration of marine fishing vessels will be done and biometric ID cards will be issued to the fishermen.

Numbers mislead as real spending falls short of budget allocations

 State was one among few states in the country to present a whopping Rs 1.61 lakh crore budget. But, the moot question is how far our governments are realistic in spending the amounts?. When one go through the actual amounts earmarked and actual spending in successive years, the spending was much below for key sectors.
  Take for example, Irrigation sector, the State government's prestigious programme. The State government provided Rs 15,013 crore in the 2012-13 budget for Jalayagnam, a massive irrigation programme. But, it was able to spend around Rs 7,000 crore up to January, 2012. Thus, the government earmarked Rs 13,804 crore for irrigation in 2013-14 budget estimates. It was a decrease of Rs 1,209 crore this year.
However, Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy defended himself for the decrease of amount to irrigation. "We are expecting that Pranahita-Chevella and Polavaram will be accorded national project status. Thus, the decrease of funds for irrigation sector," he explained.
  Same was the case with minor irrigation. The expenditure in 201-12 budget under minor irrigation ws Rs 49.05 crore, the budget estimate for 2012-13 was Rs 63.56 crore. The revised estimate was Rs 59.51 crore and the budget estimate for 2013-14 was Rs 117.25 crore.
 Providing infrastructure was another key area, where the actual spending was less. The plan budget of Roads, Buildings and Ports was Rs 1,26 crore in 2011-12. But, the budget estimate for 2012-13 was Rs 3,306 crore. The revised estimate for the same year was Rs 3,057 crore. Now, the budget estimate for 2013-14 was Rs 3,657 crore.
 In some other key sectors, the estimates and revised estimates were same even though the amounts were not fully spent in the year.
 As far as Energy department is concerned the State government spent more than the earmarked amount in view of the precarious power generation position. The estimates too were increased this year in view of the subsidies farmers and other issues.


The estimates of some key departments (plan expenditure)
GRAPH:

Tribal welfare Department: 
The accounts for 2011-12  Rs 668 crore
The Budget estimate for 2012-13 - Rs 1,023 crore
The revised estimate for 2012-13 - Rs 997 crore
The estimate for 2013-14


Agriculture : 

2012-13 budget estimates - Rs 2,207 crore
Revised estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 2,207 crore
Budget estimates for 2013-14  - Rs 2,494 crore

HIGHER EDUCATION :

Accounts for 2011-12 - Rs 574 crore
Estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 218 crore
Revised estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 167 crore
The estimates for 2013-14  - Rs 198 crore

SCHOOL EDUCATION:

Accounts for 2011-12 Rs 2,595 crore
Estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 3,844 crore
Revised estimates 2012-13 - Rs 2,924 crore
Estimates for 2013-14 - Rs 3,904 crore

TECHNICAL EDUCATION:

Accounts for 2011-12 - Rs 454 crore
Estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 738 crore
Revised estimates for 2012-13 - Rs 638
Estimates for 2013-14 - Rs 872 crore

MEDICAL AND HEALTH:

Accounts for 2011-12   - Rs 1,985 crore
Estimates for 2012-13  - Rs 2,364 crore
Revised estimates for 2012-13  - Rs 2,364 crore
Budget estimates for 2013-14  - Rs 2,580 crore


ENERGY:
Accounts for 2011-12 Rs 1,498 crore
Esitmates for 2012-13 Rs 3,893 crore
Revised estimates for 2012-13  - Rs 3,893 crore
The estimates for 2013-14 - Rs 5,749 crore


ends

Election-oriented state budget seeks to please all, hurt none

“Please all, hurt none” seemed to be the motto of finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy when he presented -- with one eye cocked to the general election next year -- a Rs 1,61,348 crore budget for 2013-14 in the Assembly Monday. The budget is 10.62 per cent bigger than the outlay for 2012-13. There were no taxes as it has become a tradition for governments to present a tax-free budget in March and increase rates later.
The finance minister announced some new schemes such as Rajiv Deevena which will give pre-matric scholarships to around 3 lakh SC students.
Agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, presenting a Rs 25,962 crore “agriculture action plan”, announced a `100 crore Market Intervention Fund to ensure minimum support price for farm produce. He also announced a Natural Calamities Fund with Rs 589.04 crore to provide immediate relief to farmers in the event of natural calamities.
In sum, the budget presented by the Congress government seemed to be an attempt to woo the weaker sections, students and farmers ahead of the elections in 2014.
The budget also set apart 22.8 per cent of the funding for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as per the newly enacted law on SC/ST sub-plans.
In an hour-long budget speech, the finance minister said the state’s GSDP for 2012-13 was estimated to have grown 5.29 per cent over the previous year. “The state has optimistically targeted sectoral growth of 6 per cent for agriculture, 10.5 per cent for industry and 11.5 per cent for services leading to an overall growth target of 10 per cent for the 12th Plan,” he said.
The finance minister, however, imposed a cut in allocation for irrigation projects, granting only Rs 13,804 crore for the Jalayagnam programme as against Rs 15,013 crore in 2012-13. “We hope to secure national project status for the Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella projects and thereby secure 90 per cent funds from the government of India. Hence the lower allocation for the irrigation department,” he explained.
Also, there were only marginal increases in allocation for education, medical and health and housing. Subsidy for the Re 1-per-kg  rice scheme remained the same at Rs 3,000 crore, while the power subsidy was enhanced by a meagre Rs 200 crore from Rs 5,500 crore.
Overall allocation to the power sector has been increased to Rs 7,117 crore, even as government targets adding 2200 MW to an installed power generation capacity of 16,386 MW.
This year’s presentation was notable for an attempt by the government to present a separate budget for agriculture in what was trumpeted as a first-ever exercise. But it turned out to be a damp squib. Due to a lack of coordination between the government and the Assembly staff, the ‘agriculture budget’ was amended to ‘an agriculture action plan’ because it seemed to violate legislative privileges.
The TDP boycotted the agriculture minister’s presentation and walked out of the Assembly, dubbing the government’s “pioneering move” as “unconstitutional”.
While the focus on the elections was apparent, the finance minister said it was not a poll budget.

State budget likely to be poll-oriented

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

17th March 2013 07:54 AM

      New schemes and more sops to weaker sections are expected to figure in the budget which will be presented in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. As this is being considered an election budget, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, in consultation with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, is giving finishing touches to it.
The finance minister will present the budget in the Assembly ar 10.26 am on Monday. Later,  agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana will introduce a separate budget for agriculture. Endowments minister C Ramachandraiah will present the general budget and civil supplies minister D Sridhar Babu the agriculture budget in the Legislative Council.
“The state’s financial situation is sound. This year the budget will truly reflect the assurances given by the Congress in 2009,” the finance minister said on Saturday.
When the minister hinted that this year’s budget would be in tune with the 2009 election manifesto, there is a possibility of implementing Congress’ two major assurances before going for Assembly elections in 2014, sources said.
In its election manifesto, the Congress promised supply of 6-kg rice to each member of the below poverty line (BPL) families and a nine-hour uninterrupted power supply to the agricultural sector. At present, the government is supplying 4 kg of rice to each member of the BPL families through the public distribution system.
Apart from a separate budget for agriculture for the first time, funds will be allotted and spent exclusively for the development of SCs and STs under sub-plans. The newly-enacted Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Act, 2012 will be implemented from this budget. Funds will be allocated as per the population of SCs and STs as per the 2001 census. The size of the budget will be around Rs 1.40 lakh crore and 22.8 per cent of it will be allocated for SCs and STs.
The state government is expecting a 5.29 per cent growth rate in the 2013-14 financial year.

Per capita income tripled during Congress rule: Governo

The state is expected to register a growth rate of 5.29 per cent as against the national average of 4.96 per cent during 2012-13 and the per capita income, which was Rs 68,970 in 2011-12, is expected to cross Rs 77,250.

In a joint address to both Houses of the state legislature on the commencement of the budget session on Wednesday, governor ESL Narasimhan listed out the various developmental activities taken up by the Kirn Kumar Reddy government.

He said that despite unfavourable seasonal conditions that prevailed for major part of the 11th five-year plan period and the uncertainty in the global economy, the state could register an average growth rate of 8.18 per cent during the said period. The per capita income tripled in nine years.

“My government intends to continue all the welfare progarmmes that were taken up for implementation in the last five years and the new  initiatives.”

Narasimhan said that the government was committed to getting national project status for the Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella irrigation projects. With regard to power, he said, APGenco will add 2,200 MW  capacity in 12 months and 1,000 MW by the private sector.

Noting that the Rs 14,1312-crore worth Hyderabad Metro rail was going on a brisk pace, he said the Nagloe-Mettuguda corridor was expected to be completed by December next year, well ahead of the schedule. The first phase of Godavari drinking water scheme to supply 172 MGD to Hyderabad is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

On the industrial front, the government expects around Rs 30,000 crore of investments, with a potential to generate employment for six lakh persons, in the two National Investment Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) proposed in Chittoor and Medak districts.

The governor said that the government exhibited no leniency to  terrorists.



Comments(1)

The Governor should know income not tripled... it is only increase in currency .... production not increased... goods and services not increased ... it is only increase in currency number... five years back we purchased one dozen bananas at Rs 15/- and now we are buying the same one dozen bananas at Rs.50/- most probably the Governor thought this as increased income. The Governor should know one dozen bananas being the same clearly it is the increase in currency... Governments and Politicians are always thinks people as bakras only that is the difficulty. So considering the people as Bakras they do ruling which means looting.. Government by increasing the prices... thinks that increase as growth what a wonderful Government this??? we should all pray Lord Shiva to happen that all currency should disappear from this world and all Gold should turn into water for ever in this world ... so that without any disaster this Planet Earth can be saved from these looters

Posted by Mahesh at 03/14/2013 17:39 

25 ‘fielders’ in position to catch paper balls

 

14th March 2013 10:58 AM

As many as 25 members of security staff, including those of the governor and the Assembly speaker, acted as “keepers” and “fielders” on the first day of the budget session to ward off any paper balls, paper rockets and torn copies of governor’s speech from hitting him.
As expected, the day was marked by chaos as opposition members disrupted governor ESL Narasimhan’s address to the joint session of Assembly and Council by raising Jai Telangana slogans and throwing paper missiles at him.
As soon as the governor began his address at 9.30 am on Wednesday, TRS MLAs tore the copies of the address and threw the pieces at him.
To protect the governor, the security personnel continuously raised their hands to hit back the paper products of the TRS. Around 10 securitymen including governor’s two personal securitymen stood formed an inner circle around the podium.
Another 15 personnel formed an outer ring. Besides them, around 50 marshals were positioned in the House.
The  speaker, who sat on the left side of the governor, also raised his hands occasionally to deflect the paper balls directed at the governor.
They all made a good job of it since none of the missiles hit the target during the governor’s half-an-hour speech.
One paper missile thrown by a TRS MLA was so forceful that it knocked off the cap of a securityman. The securityman’s alertness did not waver a wee bit and he retrieved his cap from the ground only after the governor concluded his speech at 9.37 am.
The Opposition MLAs came well prepared for the governor’s speech. They began arriving at the Old Assembly Hall by 9 am. Some TRS MLAs tore the two bulletin copies and rolled them into balls. When the governor began his address, they hurled the paper missiles on him.
While TRS members shouted Jai Telangana and Governor Go Back while TDP members, holding placards, tried to barge into the podium demanding nine-hour power supply to the farm sector and opposing proposal to hike power tariff.
CPI leader Gunda Mallesh and some TRS MLAs stood on the seats. YSRCP and some independent MLAs and MLCs too shouted slogans.
TDP and Left members walked out of the Hall even before the governor was half way through his speech.