'TDP regime squandered public money'

Coming down heavily on the previous TDP government, state finance minister K Rosaiah alleged that the previous regime had literally squandered public money.

"The state received Rs 5,000 crore worth of rice from the Government of India towards the food-for-work programme. No auditing has been done on the utilisation of rice. Hundreds of crores of rupees were spent in the name of Janmabhumi programme. Yet no auditing has been conducted on the expenditure. No where in the country such a huge expenditure was left unaudited. This is nothing but squandering public money," he said.

Blaming the 10-year rule of the Telugu Desam party for the huge revenue and fiscal deficit, Rosaiah pointed out that the previous Congress government in 1994-95 has presented the annual Budget with a revenue surplus of Rs 232.28 crore.

While explaining his efforts in reducing non-plan expenditure, Rosaiah said that he has completely contained the non-salary expenditure, which normally grew by 10 to 12 per cent annually. Some not-so effective schemes have also been downsized, he added.

He said that the much publicised 'one crore sops' scheme has not been executed by the Naidu government, which proved to be saving of government funds, he said.