HP's 11th five year plan fixed at Rs 14,000 crore

Shimla, Jan 18 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh's fifth five year plan (2007-2012) has been fixed at Rs 14,000 crore as compared to Rs 10,300 crore of the tenth five year plan.

The 11th five-year plan was approved in a meeting between state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at New Delhi yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said social service sector has been given the highest priority with Rs 6,158 crore that was 44 per cent of the funds of the 11th plan.

He said Rs 2,177 crore would be spent on transportation and communication sector, Rs 1,240 crore on irrigation and flood control, Rs 1,494 crore on agriculture and allied activities, Rs 1,140 crore on energy sector, Rs 811 crore on general economic services and Rs 361 crore on the rural development.

About 5,744.10 MW additional hydel power would be harnessed in the state during the plan period and out of which 2,751 MW was under execution under central and joint sector, 1,831 MW in private sector and 1,150 MW in the state sector, he said.

The Chief Minister said an ambitious plan has been formulated to attract 10 lakh foreign tourists and 3.25 crore domestic tourists in the state in the plan period, adding that 15,000 additional beds accommodation would be created to facilitate the visiting tourists.

Twenty-three technical educational institutions, 250 primary schools, 500 middle school, 1,000 senior secondary schools and 15 new colleges would be opened in the state during the period.

MORE UNI