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Andhra Pradesh government hints at tough economic measures

Andhra Pradesh (AP) government on Wednesday hinted at tough measures ahead saying user charges would have to be levied to cover operation and maintenance costs of existing and new public assets being created with participation of stakeholders.

"We are passing through a critical transition of development. Short-term sacrifices have to be made for achieving long term goals," the state Governor C Rangarajan said in his address to the Assembly on the opening day of its budget session.

Amid frequent interruptions from opposition Congress benches, he outlined the government's strategy to pursue reforms with a human face, simplify rules and procedures, involve private sector in a big way and re-orient the administration's role as a facilitator and catalyst of economic development.

The government would shortly evolve a performance appraisal system, based on certain objectively verifiable set of development indicators, relating to economic, social and infrastructure development, he said.

There was protest from opposition benches when Governor mentioned about welfare of farmers, creation of jobs in Information Technology sector, weaker section housing programme, anti-corruption measures, law and order and Janmabhoomi programme.

Some Congress members were waving placards demanding remunerative price for farmers' produce and ex-gratia for families of debt-burdened farmers who had committed suicide.

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