AP Budget: Meagre funds for Krishna Pushkaralu
The officials opined that the government may release funds for Pushkaralu from unplanned expenditure.
Vijayawada: The state government is facing criticism as it has allotted only Rs 250 crore for Krishna Pushkaralu, which is lesser than budget alloted for Godavari Pushkaralu of Rs 1,600 crore.
Presently, Krishna Pushkaralu has more significance when it will happen in Amara-vati capital city location. The officials opined that the government may release funds for Pushkaralu from unplanned expenditure.
According to reports, the expectations are high on Krishna Pushkaralu. Especially, the people from various parts of the country may visit Vijayawada city and also several parts of Amaravati capital location.
Several locations in Krishna and Guntur districts will be host for Krishna Pushkaralu. The areas from Achampeta to Repalle in Guntur district and Muktyala to Hamsaladeevi in Krishna district limits are on the banks of the river. The present amount is not sufficient for constructing ghats and other facilities in the huge river flow area. On the other hand, several areas in Kurnool district also come under Krishna Pushkaralu limits.
However, one official, on condition of anonymity, said that the government could spend funds for Krishna Pushkaralu under various departments. He opined that the same budget of Rs 1,600 crore is required for Krishna Pushkaralu.
Budget overlooks Krishna projects
Several important pro-jects around Vijaya-wada city and Krishna district have not been allotted funds in the state Budget.
According to reports, the Krishna delta modernisation works, Machilipatnam port, expansion of Machi-lipatnam road, Ganna-varam airport, city beautification and several projects are waiting for funds allocation. All the projects require funds to pay for land acquisition.
Likewise, the inner road and outer ring roads around Amara-vati capital city location are also needing funds for initiating land acquisition. The long pending Krishna delta works, which were stopped midway due to lack of funds has failed to garner funds in the latest budget too. However, the government allocated funds for city drainage system.
The capital city has been allotted only Rs 1,500 crore in the budget. It has given scope for criticism from opposition parties. CPM Capital Area Convener Ch. Babu Rao wondered how the state government would construct the world-class capital city with no funds allocated in both central and state budgets.
He said that the government had announced that Rs 42,000 crore is required for capital city construction. He said that how the roads would be formed in capital area. They would not allow the Singapore and other foreign companies for taking up whole capital works by mortgaging lands.
The CPI’s city secretary wanted the government to reveal funds allotted by the Centre for storm water drainage project in Vijayawada and Guntur cities. He said that the government did not allot any funds for projects in the city.
The local body has also not allotted plan and non-plan grants from budget. The CPI leaders staged a protest and burnt the effigy of the state government for no specific budget allocations in the budget.