Orissa Annual Plan size fixed at Rs 5105 crore

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) The annual plan for Orissa for 2007-08 was finalised here at Rs 5105 crore, which includes additional Central assistance of Rs 80 crore for projects of special interest to the State.

The plan size was fixed at a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik.

Dr Ahluwalia complimented the State for fiscal improvement and pointed out that the State has developed potential to go for higher plan size for the Eleventh Plan. He said there was substantial improvement both on revenue deficit and fiscal deficit. Investor friendly environment has been created and large amount of investment intention have been indicated.

Dr Ahluwalia said the State Government should work towards early realisation of these proposals. Infrastructure development essential for attracting investments should be given priority and private sector participation should be encouraged.

He said the State needs to simultaneously work on improving rural infrastructure and spend more on rural infrastructure and agriculture. There was need for further expanding tourism and the State Government needs to work towards developing tourism related infrastructure.

The State was informed that more districts were likely to be covered under NREGP. The Centre was likely to expand support to improve irrigation in dry land areas.

Mr Patnaik said the State would aim at achieving higher growth rate with greater focus on human development during the Eleventh Plan period. The target was to achieve a growth rate of 9 per cent with greater attention to depress reasons and social groups to ensure inclusive growth. Poverty reduction by at least 10 per cent points and employment opportunities through self-employment would be focus of Eleventh Plan. During the next plan emphasis will be on improving productive infrastructure. Public private partnership would be encouraged.

He said investment in rural roads would go up from Rs 237 crore in 2000-01 to Rs 1,200 crore in the next financial year.

Mr Patnaik said the development strategy would focus on improving rural and urban infrastructure such as roads, bridges, irrigation projects and ports. Investments in agriculture, horticulture, forest, fisheries and other livelihood sectors would be skilled up. Delivery of public services for poor would be improved.

Mr Patnaik said public sector reforms would continue and policy initiatives would be taken to further improve investment climate.

The Chief Minister requested the Central government to consider setting up of a IIT and an IIM to meet locally growing demand for manpower.

He said Planning Committees have been set up in all districts and 34 per cent of the outlay for Eleventh Plan and Annual Plan has been allocated for district sector schemes.

Twenty one subjects and 11 departments have been transferred to Panchayati Raj Institutions. Women Self Help Groups have been actively engaged in implementing mid-day meal programmes and managing public distribution system. He said enabling policy framework has been put in place to improve investment climate. Higher resources were being allocated to social sector to strengthen social security system.

UNI