Hyderabad, Sep 27th: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today gave a firm commitment to the people of the State that every program started and announced by Former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy would be carried out with more vigor and dedication. Extending his 'Vijayadasami' greetings, he said it was time that all sections of the people rededicate themselves to realize the dreams cherished by Dr Reddy to make Andhra Pradesh the number one State in all sectors.

Mr Rosaiah said of the 81 major and medium irrigation projects taken up in the last five years, as many as 12 were completed fully and 13 partially. Work on on many more projects was on in full swing. The State Government had requested the Centre to declare Polavaram and six other major irrigation projects as National Projects. The State had also taken up micro irrigation projects for which a loan of over Rs 8,547 crore was expected from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Schemes and programs such as Rs 2 kg rice and free power supply to farmers would continue. Mr Rosaiah said all steps were being taken to tackle severe drought in about 1,000 mandals. Efforts were on to control prices through effective market intervention programs. He also allayed apprehensions about the implementation of Aarogyasri Scheme saying they were planning to expand its scope by bringing government and retired employees also into the scheme. He said, the government had also included the H1N1 treatment in Aarogyasri Scheme. A concerted effort was on to control the spread of Swine flu.