State Plan size finalised at Rs 3210 crores
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2011: The plan size of Manipur for the next fiscal year 2011-12 due to begin from April this year has been finalised at Rs 3,210 crores, an increase of 20 percent from the fiscal year 2010-11 .

The plan size for the fiscal year 2010-11 was Rs 2,600 crores including the amount of Rs 750 crores under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA).

According to an official source, the plan size of Manipur for the fiscal year 2011-12 was finalised during a meeting presided over by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia at Delhi today afternoon.

After a thorough discussion, the meeting attended Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Chief Secretary DS Poonia, Commissioner (Finance) Dewangal and Special Secretary (Planning) Shajad Huissen among others from the side of the Government of Manipur agreed to finalise the plan size of the State at Rs 3,210 crores after reducing Rs 811 crores from the proposed plan size.

The proposed plan size was Rs 4,021 crores.

Out of the total amount of Rs 3,210 crores finalised as the State plan size for the fiscal year 2011-12, Rs 800 crores is for SPA including Special Central Assistance (SCA).

For the past few days, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has been camping at New Delhi and trying to ensure that there is no reduction in the proposed plan size of the Government.

Prior to the finalisation of the plan size today, the Chief Minister had even attended several meetings at different places in this regard.

The meeting for finalisation of the plan size was held last of all at 3.30 pm.

Apart from finalising the plan size, no other matters including sectoral allocations have been taken in the meeting in due consideration of Budget session of the Parliament which commenced from today and other urgent matters.

Another meeting is expected to be held on February 28 to finalise sectoral allocations, the source said.

The source further disclosed that even though sectoral allocation is still awaited, special emphasise have been given towards development of agriculture in the State plan this year.

Assuaging the sentiment of the State officials over finalisation of the plan size below the proposed amount, the Deputy Chairman Ahluwalia suggested that steps should be taken up this time for implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes.

The Deputy Chairman expressed desire for initiating more stringent measures towards controlling spread of HIV/AIDS in Manipur and advised the attending State officials to submit necessary reports to the Planning Commission from time to time so that the required fund could be sanctioned from the Centre.

In the meeting today, an invitation was extended to the Deputy Chairman from the side of the State Government for visiting Manipur as soon as possible to take first hand account of the developmental activities being taken up and other related financial matters, the source further disclosed.

Although there has been an increase of 20 percent in the plan size of 2011-12 from the plan size of 2010-11 which is due to lapse by March 31 this year, uncertainty still hangs over the issue of pay scale of the agitating teachers.

In an informal meeting with mediapersons before leaving for Delhi to finalise the plan size, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had noted that the demand of the agitating teachers for implementation of the recommendations of Central 6th Pay Commission may be considered if the Planning Commission approves the proposal plan size of the State Government.

However, the plan size for the State has been finalised at a reduction of Rs 811 crores from the proposed plan size.

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