State Plan size fixed at Rs 1660 crores
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21: The Plan size for the fiscal 2008-2009 has been fixed at Rs 1660 crores, which is a 20 percent hike from the Rs 1374.31 allotted to the State in the previous fiscal.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a State Government official who is part of the team that is in Delhi to fix the Plan size said that the decision to peg the Plan size at Rs 1660 crores was taken during a meeting with the Planning Commission officials led by its Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today at 2.30 pm.

Chief Minister O Ibobi with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission MS Ahluwalia

The amount of Rs 1660 crores is inclusive of Rs 550 under the Special Plan Assistance, said the source and recalled that the amount under the SPA in the last fiscal was Rs 500 crores.

The Plan size of Rs 1660 crores is however below the projected the amount of Rs 2029.61, inclusive of Rs 800 crores under the SPA, proposed by the State Government.

The State team was led by Chief Minister O Ibobi and Chairman of the State Planning Board and MLA E Kunjeshore.

Prior to the meeting with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh led a team of officials of the State Government and held a meeting with the Secretary of the Planning Commission today at 12.30 pm.

The Planning Commission has also agreed to release the Rs 210 crore which was sanctioned in the fiscal 2006-07 but never released.

The reason for withholding the amount has not been spelt out clearly.

With the State Plan fixed at Rs 1660 crores, the Working Group will meet tomorrow at 9.30 am to discuss the sectoral allocation of the amount fixed for the State in the current fiscal.

The thrust area includes giving a boost to infrastructure development with the main emphasis of plugging the gap between the hill and valley as well as to catch up with other States.

Education will also come under the priority list with special emphasis on posting Science and Mathematics teachers to schools located in the hill districts.

Constructing school buildings will also be given due importance.

Under Health, due stress will be laid on effective implementation of the National Rural Health Mission.

Due importance will also be given to power sector, agriculture, irrigation to augment production and road connectivity.

During the meeting with the Planning Commission officials, Chief Minister O Ibobi pointed out that the delay in releasing the funds for the State invariably impedes completing projects on time and hence the utilisation certificates cannot be produced and issued on time to the Planning Commission.

The Chief Minister urged the Deputy Chairman to ensure that the funds earmarked are released without any delay.

Giving his assurance Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that the funds will be released on time and urged Chief minister O Ibobi and the State Govt to complete all the schemes and projects on time as well as to produce the Utilisation Certificates on time.