Sensing that the notification for the Assembly and LS polls would be out on Sunday evening (March 10), the AP government, in the afternoon, issued a staggering 61 GOs, in just a few hours. They included a budget release order (BRO) for the farmers’ loan waiver scheme. Usually, GOs are not issued on a Sunday and that too, in such a large number. With the exercise likely being done in a hurry to beat the poll notification, some of the GOs lacked numbers and even titles.
According to, AP secretary (general administration department) said the GOs were issued considering the functioning of various government departments. “GOs can be issued even when the model code of conduct or the poll code is in force. But, it should be done within the parameters framed by the EC. In some case, GOs can be issued after seeking permission from the EC.”
The GOs released included a BRO for the third and fourth instalments of farm loan waiver for Rs. 4,500 crore. Another GO was regarding granting permission for six unaided colleges from the HRD department. Another was relating to the sanctioning of Rs. 25 crore towards restoration of 90 ancient temples from the TTD budget.
The irrigation department issued three GOs, including giving OD to release of water in Kadapa district. Four GOs of the GAD were issued relating to promotion of officers. A highest number of 23 GOs were issued by the municipal administration department and three of them were confidential. The health department issued a GO sanctioning a Sanjivini super-specialty hospital.
This issuing and release of GOs is seen as a hasty move by the government to ensure that the instalments of loan waiver reach farmers just before the polling day. The same was done by the Telangana government too.
