Kerala plan outlay pegged at Rs 6,950 cr

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI)The annual plan of Kerala for 2007-08 has been fixed at Rs 6,950 crore, including additional Central assistance of Rs 60 crore for projects of specialimportance to the state.

The plan size was finalised at a meeting bedtmeen Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan here today.

Mr Achuthanandan told mediapersons later that the Centre had sought Rs 250 crore as one-time central assistance, but the Planning Commission had sanctioned only Rs 60 crore.

He said Agriculture, traditional industries, Biotechnology, Tourism and Industries have been given major thrust in the 2007-08 plan.

Mr Achuthanandan said the outlay of Rs 6,950 crore was RS 740 crore more than that for 2006-07.

Mr Ahuluwalia said the Commission had started taking a review of the performance of major Centrally sponsored schemes and invited comments of the State Government on problems being faced in their implementation.

He asked the state to encourage public private partnership in development of infrastructure as it would entitle them assistance from viability gap fund.

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