Jharkhand Annual Plan size fixed at Rs 6,676 crore

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) The Annual Plan for Jharkhand for the year 2007-08 was today finalised at Rs 6,676 crore, with Plan Panel Deputy Chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia advising the State government to step up growth and to go in for early elections to local bodies.

The Plan size was fixed at a meeting in Yojna Bhavan here between Dr Ahulwalia and Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda.

Dr Ahluwalia said the state needs more focused attention on human development. Faster growth rate was desirable as the state has a low per capita income and a large number of people were still below the poverty line. Local body elections need to be organised at the earliest so that grants meant for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) could be utilised.

The state was also advised to announce its own Relief and Rehabilitation Policy as it would help develop investor confidence.

The state has to keep in mind environmental constraints while inviting private investments. Strengthening of the planning set up, mission on watershed development and identification of flagship schemes for focused attention was recommended.

The Planning Commission offered full support in realisation of State's Plan to integrate forestry and village development.

Performance relating to the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Progamme was appreciated. Scope for tourism and industrial development needs to be optimally tapped, Dr Ahluwalia said.

The Chief Minister briefed the Commission on the performance during the Tenth Plan and feasibility of targets in the Eleventh Plan. He said the focus of the development efforts was on weaker sections of society.

Two lakh beneficiaries were brought under the social security net and 108 residential schools for SCs and STs were set up.

Minor irrigation was a priority.

As much as 74,339 hectares of irrigation capacity had been created and 43,956 hectares of lost potentials restored. He said 5,824 primary schools were up-graded to upper primary level.

Mr Koda said during the Eleventh Plan the State would pursue a growth target of 9.8 per cent. This would include agriculture growth rate of 6.3 per cent, industry 12 per cent and services eight per cent. Thrust areas for the Plan would be agriculture, minor irrigation, energy, roads, education, and health and skill development. Infrastructure development through PPP would be given priority.

UNI