AP Budget 2024: First Budget Presented by Alliance Government Post Election Victory
Following the coalition government’s recent election victory, it presented its first budget. In the legislative assembly, the budget for the financial year 2024-25, totaling ₹2,94,427.25 crore, was introduced by Payyavula Keshav, who serves as the Finance Minister in the state assembly, and by Minister Kollu Ravindra in the legislative council. The budget allocates ₹2,35,916.99 crore for revenue expenditure and ₹32,712.84 crore for capital expenditure, with a revenue deficit of ₹34,743.38 crore and a fiscal deficit of ₹68,742.65 crore. Significant funds were allocated to key sectors in the budget.
For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Water Resources Department received an allocation of ₹16,705 crore. During the budget announcement, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu criticized the previous government for neglecting the irrigation sector. He alleged that the construction of the Polavaram project was stalled, resulting in damage to the diaphragm wall and significant delays in project completion. Naidu highlighted that various projects, including Vamsadhara Phase-2, Handri-Neeva Phase-2, Veligonda, Thotapalli Barrage, Gajapathinagaram Branch Canal, Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme, Pulichintala, Gundlakamma Reservoir, and the Somasila-Swarnamukhi Link Canal, showed no progress under the previous administration.
Nimmala Rama Naidu on Irrigation: Committed to Completing Key Projects
Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu affirmed the government’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects, such as the Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme, Vamsadhara Phase-2, Veligonda Project, Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi Project, TBP-HLC system improvements, minor irrigation projects, water sheds, and groundwater management. He emphasized that the government is dedicated to ensuring the completion of these projects.
Additionally, Naidu announced plans to undertake the Bhavavasi Tank Modernization Project and the Mahendra Tanaya Offshore Project. He also mentioned that the government has decided to link the Godavari and Penna rivers, as well as the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers, to improve water resource management across the state.
