Vijayawada: Alluri Sitharama Raju district is projected to achieve a growth rate of 21.19 percent in 2025-26 financial year, while Palnadu district is at the bottom of the list with just 7.54 percent expected growth.
Interestingly, Manyam, Vizianagaram, and Sri Satya Sai dists, considered among the state’s backward dists, are expected to achieve better growth rate than developed dists like Krishna, NTR, and Guntur.
The state planning dept studied the strengths and weaknesses of each district before readying the growth rate projections. Dist collectors have been asked to focus on the strengths of their respective dists to further boost the growth rate while filling the gaps in the weak areas. Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, during his two-day brainstorming session with dist collectors, advised them consider themselves as captains of the districts, lead from the front, and deliver the results. He asked them to think out of the box to strive to make their district top the charts.
West Godavari collector Chadalavada Nagarani said they have initiated measures to convert the widely grown water hyacinth in irrigation canals into fertilizer. While hyacinth is seen as a big hurdle for flow of water downstream, utilising it as fertilizer will ensure its effective utilization, said Nagarani.
“The dist administration will encourage industries willing to take up this initiative. Excessive growth of water hyacinth in irrigation canals is obstructing water flow. By converting it into fertilizer, not only can we resolve the issue, but can also turn it into a useful resource,” said Nagarani, while emphasising that the goal for the upcoming financial year is to achieve a per capita income of 3.50 lakh in the dist. There is also a strong focus on significant advancements in the aquaculture sector. Currently, fish and prawn farming spans 1.33 lakh acres, and efforts are being made to expand it to 1.50 lakh acres. While the state’s projected growth rate is around 12.02 percent, at least nine dists reported better growth rate than the state average.
ASR district is a clear leader with 21.19 percent growth rate, followed by Parvathipuram Manyam, another tribal dist, with an expected growth rate of 16.90. Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore and East Godavari dists are in the 14 percent bracket, while Sri Satya Sai, Vizianagaram, Annamayya, Chittoor, and Eluru are in the 13 percent growth rate list.
