By Syed Akbar
Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who completes one year in office later this week, has a major task ahead. Further improving the State's revenue, enlarging the power generation for
higher industrial output, attracting more investment inflows, apart from tackling the political turmoil in the State the Srikrishna committee report would throw.
Rosaiah took over the reins of the State on September 3 last year following the death of YS Rajasekhar Reddy in a helicopter crash over the Nallamalas. The last one year has been quite a "tight rope walk," as Rosaiah himself admits. Nevertheless, the chief minister gives a full
score to his rule, saying "I have tried my best and I am satisfied".
Addressing select mediapersons here on Monday, Rosaiah dwelt at length the things he did in the past 12 months and the circumstances under which he took the charge, and the future development and welfare agenda he holds on hand to "strenghten" the Congress in the
State.
Keeping this in view, Rosaiah has made it clear that he would abide by whatever decision the Central government takes on Srikrishna committee report.
"Yes, There's an issue. There's the demand. We cannot say there's no demand. But we cannot solve it at our level," he said adding that the Central government's decision is final and he will abide by it.
Rosaiah said he would expect all to follow the Central government's decision. "Now as the chief minister, and earlier as a minister, and common citizen this has been my view. The Centre's decision should be followed by one and all. Then only people of all regions will stand to benefit and the State will prosper".
He said the recent pro-Telangana and pro-united Andhra agitations had cost the State exchequer dear. "The government had lost Rs 100 crore per day for two months during the agitations," he said.
Stating that the agitations had affected industrial investments in the State, he said the formation of the Srikrishna panel reversed the trend. "After Srikrishna committee, investment flow started. IT sector too recorded improved growth. Any agitation will have a say definitely on the flow of investments".
Asked if the State government was prepared to meet the crisis the Srikrishna panel report would create, a confident Rosaiah said "as and when the report comes, we will chalk out a strategy to tackle the law and order situation".
When his attention was drawn to the remarks of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao's remarks that there will be a civil war if the report was against Telangana, he said "in a democracy such situations are not good".
The State, Rosaiah said, had recovered from financial crunch caused by recession and its revenues are improving. The revenue in the first four months of this financial year are nearer to the government's expectations. The task now is to meet the fresh budgetary provisions
for 2010-2011 and clear the arrears from earlier financial years.
"The financial crunch is not as bad as it was when I took the charge. Things have bettered now. In any welfare government, financial issues are bound to exist," he pointed out.
Taking a strong dig at agitations against power plants in the State, Rosaiah said "we need power. We should not create trouble for MNCs, people and environment. There should be balance."
But people must understand and cooperate with the government. Without power the State will not progress. There's scope for more power plants in the State coastline.
Commenting on his performance in the last one year, Rosaiah said he had performed his duties to his satisfaction. "One year is not a big period. I took charge in a peculiar and pathetic situation. Both nature and people have been cooperative. I do not think I have solved the
problems. Circumstances and time was on my side. I performed my duties to my satisfaction with the support of people and the party high command."
On the financial front, he said it was difficult to maintain a balance between income and expenditure. The government has been having a good fiscal management since 2005 and this helped it to manage the financial crisis caused by global meltdown. It was indeed a tight rope
walk.
He said it was a big task for him as the chief minister. "I am in advanced age. I never expected or anticipated that I will discharge this duty. I do not compare myself with anyone and feel that I am greater than others. I have tried to do my best in the given circumstances. I can say I am satisfied, but I can't say whether others too are satisfied with
my governance".
About Cabinet expansion, Rosaiah said it would be taken up at an appropriate time. He denied that the party high command had turned down his proposal on Cabinet expansion earlier. "The Cabinet will be reshuffled when the need arises. The criteria for inclusion or deletion
will be effective running of the government and further strengthening of the Congress in the State".
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