Himachal annual plan fixed at 3000 crore
New Delhi: Himachal Annual Plan for the year 2010-11 has been fixed at rupees 3000 crore which is 300 crore rupees more in comparison to the 2009-10 annual plan.
The plan size was finalised in a meeting between Chief Minister Himachal Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Doctor Montek Singh Ahluwalia which was attended by top officials of both sides.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal old that out of total plan size agriculture & allied services, rural development, special area programmes, irrigations and flood control, energy, industry and mineral, transport and communication, science technology and environment, general economic services, social services and general services has been allocated rupees 342.84 crore, 168.66 crore, 12.97 crore, 310.48 crore, 354.37 crore, 27.27 crore, 588.93 crore, 20.00 crore, 93.45 crore,1010.79 crore and 70.24 crore rupees respectively. He told that social sector has been given top priority by allocating 1010.79 crore (33.69 %) while transport and communications sector has been given second priority by allocating 588.93 crore (19.63 %) while the energy sector has been given third priority by allocating 354.37 crore (11.81 %) of the plan allocations He told that out of total annual plan outlay general plan, scheduled caste-sub plan, tribal sub plan and backward areas sub plan has been allocated rupees 1925.00 crores,742.00 crore,270.00 crore and 63.00 crore rupees respectively.
Chief Minister Himachal Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that Himachal has been ranked as number one in the country in implementations of 20 point programmes upto November 2009 by Govt. of India and added that social sector has been given top priority by the Govt. by allocating 1010.79 crore (33.69%) plan allocations and added
Chif Minister Himachal Pradesh that quality improvement will be ensured in health and education sectors by creating modern infrastructure and facilities in these sectors in the state.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that transport and communications sector has been given second priority in plan allocations under which 588.93 crores (19.63%) budget has been allocated to link feasible villages with motorable roads and provide maintenance of existing infrastructure. He told that State Govt. is meeting the NPV cost from its own resources in respect of PMGSY roads involving diversions of forest land due to refusal of Union Govt. to internalize the NPV cost in the project cost. He told that about 39045 K.M. road length is feasible in the state as per the detailed survey conducted in the year 1999-2000 which will give a road density of about 70 K.M per 100 Sq K.M area and added that against this 30302 K.M length of roads have been constructed upto 31st march 2009 giving a road density of 54.43 Sq K.M in the state.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that energy sector has been given third largest allocations by providing 354.37 crore (11.81%) of the budget allocations and told that three fourth of 23000 MW total hydel potential would be exploited in the state by the year 2017. He told that 600 MW capacity hydro electric projects will be commissioned in the state in next financial year and added that additional 2600 MW energy would be added in the system by the end of 11th plan. He told that additional 7500 MW hydel energy will be harnessed in the state by the end of 12th five years plan. He told that State Govt. has completed allocation of over 95% of total hydel potential of the state to various agencies and added that in overall of total potential, 9088MW (39.5%) will be commissioned under central sectors PSUs including the SJVNL, About 10,000 MW (43.5%) will be harnessed by Pvt. sector while remaining 3800 MW (17%) will be exploited by state sector. He told that State Govt. has decided to provide a loan of rupees 190.00 crore and equity contribution of rupees 100.00 crore to Himachal Pradesh power corporations for the execution of 4 ADB assisted projects viz Sawra kuddu, Renuka dam, integrated Kashang and Sainj projects.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that plan allocations of rupees 342.84 crores (11.43%) has been made for agriculture and allied sectors and added that this plan allocations is double of the national average of 5-6%. He requested the planning commission to exempt the states allocating 10% or more budget to agriculture sector from the eligibility criteria and parameters for allocations of funds under RKVY. He demanded 50% of the allocations should be provided as RKVY assistance to the states who are already spending more than 10%.of their total plan outlay on agriculture and allied sectors. He told that State Govt. has launched ambitious Doodh Ganga Yojna to bring white revolution in the state under which over 50000 farmers will be provided loans through 10,000 self help groups to boost milk productions in rural areas of the state and added that State Govt. has increased the milk procurement prices by rupees four per liter in the last two years.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that State Govt. would invited reputed hotel groups to set up premium hotels to boost the tourism sector in the state and added that single window clearance has been started to clear tourism related investment proposal in the state. He told state registered 11.40 million tourist arrival during the year 2009 and registered tourist growth of around 12% despite worldwide recessions. He told that Home Stay Scheme has been launched in the state to create tourism infrastructure in the rural areas of the state and diversify the tourism to new areas. He told that Home Stay Scheme units has been exempted from payment of VAT and electricity and water supply is being provided on domestic rates to these units as incentives from State Govt.
Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that recommendations of 13th finance commission have proved highly unfavourable the State Govt. and added that while the total devolutions recommended by 13th finance commission to all states in the country over the next five years constitute an increase of 126% over the total transfers recommended by 12th Finance Commission during the period of 2005-10 but in the case of Himachal Pradesh, the increase in total transfer comes to only 50% and the percentage increase for Himachal Pradesh is lowest amongst all states in the country.
