Planning Commission grants Bihar Rs 10,200 crore annual plan

New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 10,200 crore annual plan size for Bihar, emphasising on infrastructure development along with human development in the state.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters after over a two-hour- long meeting that Rs 10,200 crore has been sanctioned for the state focusing on the development of road sector, power and irrigation and flood control along with education and health care facilities in the state.

The Bihar government had demanded Rs 10,000 crore annual plan, the Planning Commission pointed out and said the state could generate more resources internally so the plan size was fixed at Rs 10,200 crore. The annual plan for the state has been raised from Rs 8,200 crore during the last year.

Of the sanctioned amount, about 34 per cent would be Central assistance, 30 per cent would generate from internal resources and 36 per cent would be borrowing.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the Central assistance, Mr Kumar said it was based on the formula. He said the state has demanded Rs 500 crore more under the Bihar Package or the Rashtriya Samvikas Yojna for the development of roads and energy sector. At present the state receives about Rs 1000 crore, but the Bihar government wanted it to be increased to Rs 1500 crore.

Mr Ahluwalia said though the plan expenditure by Bihar has increased, it was not up to the mark. Pointing out that it was the first year of the eleventh five year plan, he said more emphasis was required on infrastructure and education on which both sides agree.

Resources were also given to the state under various Centrally- sponsored schemes. Bihar should put more emphasis on implementing them, he said.

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