Governor lauds govt for overall growth

State No. 1 in areas of devt and per capita income

• Hails government’s initiatives in IT sector

• Record food grain production even after facing cyclones and floods

• The State per capita income rose from `69,350 during 2011-12 to `78,564 in 2012-13

• State committed to maintaining peace, law & order and communal harmony

Hyderabad: Governor ESL Narasimhan on Sunday lauded Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy-led State government for achieving number one status in areas of development and per capita income in the country this year and underlined the surge in Information Technology sector because of government initiatives.

Addressing the 65th Republic Day celebrations at Parade Grounds here, he informed about the government’s initiatives in setting up IT incubation centres in several cities and towns across the State, particularly the upcoming IT Investment Region (ITIR) in Visakhapatnam.

Even an ITIR for Hyderabad has been notified by the Centre. The 202 sq km IT zone would provide direct employment to nearly 15 lakh professionals and indirect employment to 50 lakh, explained the Governor, adding that these ITIRs would generate Rs 3.11 lakh crore (approximately) revenue every year.

Apart from this in IT sector, according to the Governor, the first-of-its kind Gaming, Animation, Media and Entertainment - ‘GAME Park’ coming up in Ranga Reddy district is a step forward to encourage IT-enabled services. It would provide office space to 100 enterprises, employment opportunities for 15,000 professionals and export revenue of $500 million. With 3.27 lakh IT professionals in the State a turnover of over Rs 64,000 crore was registered during 2012-13 and it would be robust in the current year, he observed.

On power sector, Narasimhan said the government was planning to add 9,709mw of capacity to the existing 16,669 mw during the 12th Plan to meet the increasing energy demands. The year 2014 had already begun on a positive note with the commissioning of Krishnapatnam power plant’s first unit with a capacity of 800 mw, he said.

He also expressed happiness for achieving record food grain production, notwithstanding the cyclones and floods playing havoc last year. The State produced 207 lakh million tonnes (LMTs) during 2013-14, surpassing its previous best of 204 LMTs achieved in 2007-08. The per capita income of AP had moved upwards rapidly in the recent past from Rs 69,350 during 2011-12 to Rs 78,564 in 2012-13.

Noting that the government had taken effective steps to contain the twin challenges of Left Wing extremism and terrorism on the law and order front, Narasimhan said the government was fully committed towards maintaining peace, public order and communal

harmony.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Assembly Speaker N Manohar, Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, State ministers and several other leaders and officials were among those present.