Himachal Annual Plan finalised at Rs 2,100 crore

New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) The Annual Plan for Himachal Pradesh for the year 2007-08 was today finalised at Rs 2,100 crore, which includes additional special Central assistance of Rs 380 crore for projects of importance to the state.

The Plan size was fixed at a meeting in Yojana Bhavan between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Dr Ahluwalia complimented the State Government for good performance in certain social sectors, like education and health and impressive growth in the agricultural sector.

He suggested improving the market linkages to supplement growth in the horticulture sector.

The state was also advised to give focused attention to promote Arts and craft, which is its niche area.

The State Government was advised to evolve a long-term road map for development and strengthening of state highways and exploring possibilities of public-private partnership in the Sector.

The plan panel team also asked the state to work towards encouraging high value tourism.

Briefing the commission on plan performance of the state, Mr Virbhadra Singh said social sector was being given priority as nearly 90 per cent of the population was still rural based.

Public private partnership has been successfully tried in education and health sectors, he said and added that economy was being opened to the private sector in a manner that sub-serves the interests of the local government and leads to creation of productive employment.

The Chief Minister said during next financial year the highest priority will be given to social services sector, which accounts for nearly 42 per cent share of the plan size. There will be focused attention to improve water supply, and sanitation.

Besides, other sectors of priority would include transport and communications and irrigation.

He said during the Eleventh Plan period the state would work towards accelerating pace to harness hydro power potential, improved productivity in agriculture and promoting tourism, development of bio-diversity and accelerating the process of raising income of the masses.

UNI