UT Chandigarh proposes Rs 5,530 cr for 12th five year plan

Chandigarh, Mar 2: Union Territory Chandigarh has prepared plan proposals worth Rs 5,530.79 crore for the 12th Five year plan (2012-17), which is 132 per cent more than what was approved in 11th five year plan.

Funds to the tune of Rs 2,380.18 crore were approved in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), an official release said.

The bulk of funds have been proposed for urban development (Rs 2,062.63 crore), medical and public health (Rs 678.33 crore), education (Rs 724 crore), transport (Rs 466.81) crore and energy (Rs 431.71 crore) in the 12th five year plan.

The annual plan of the city is projected at Rs 750.70 crore while non-plan is proposed at Rs 2,178.78 crore for 2012-13. City's annual plan and non-plan expenditure was pegged at Rs 661.89 crore and Rs 2,143.31 crore respectively for 2011-12.

With priority being given to carry out urban development, a sum of Rs 1,187 crore has been proposed to be given to Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh as budgetary support for urban development projects in the city.

The proposals for urban development include augmenting city water supply system, development of city roads, solid waste management and storm water drainage among other projects.

"The aim is to enhance the city's quality through proper management and targeted initiatives of strategic importance. So, the proposal is to give funds to the tune of Rs.1,187 crore. during 12th Five Year Plan," release said.

The MCC had got only Rs 237.81 crore during the 11th five year plan, it said.

Being a non-legislature Union Territory, Chandigarh does not have any fund of its own. Its entire expenditure is made directly from the budget approved by the Centre under different head of accounts for different objects while all its income also directly goes to the Consolidated Fund of India, it said.

In the transport sector, the administration has proposed funds amounting to Rs 250 crore for introduction of light rail transit system and Rs 120 crore for replacing 208 condemned buses.

For energy sector, an amount of Rs 384.97 crore has been proposed for strengthening and upgradation of power distribution network in the city to provide uninterrupted power supply to city residents.

PTI