AP targets double digit growth in 2015-16: CM

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state is targeting a double digit growth in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2015-16 financial year.

“Our vision is double digit GSDP growth in the current financial year, Swacha Andrha Pradesh and fight against poverty for the comprehensive development of AP and transform it as the number one state of the country by 2029,” Naidu said while inaugurating the two-day District Collectors conference here.

He said in the first quarter of fiscal 2015-16, the state has achieved 9.72 per cent GSDP growth against the annual target of 10.44 per cent.

Agriculture sector has been the major contributor with 12.52 per cent growth, beside the key, industry and service sectors in attaining this growth, Naidu said.

The chief minister laid emphasis that by achieving the GSDP target and effectively implementing the Swacha Andhra Pradesh campaign, government can eliminate poverty.

“We have to provide water to agricultural land by next year by linking rivers and getting (river) Godavari water to all regions of the state,” he said.

In a historic move, rivers Godavari and Krishna were formally linked this week, a project that has been completed within the stipulated timeframe of six months, he said.

On implementation of various welfare plans, Naidu asked district collectors to make use of technology for proper implementation of the schemes.

The chief minister on the occasion said people have expressed satisfaction the way government has reached out to them with welfare scheme benefits.

Naidu exhorted to all 13 district collectors that they should take responsibility of the development of respective areas and that their role has now changed from merely collecting revenue to bring about overall development.

He also asked collectors to prepare estimates of growth from village level to assess loop holes in implementing development and welfare schemes.

Superintendent of Police of the 13 districts will attend the conference on Saturday to discuss the law and order in the state.