Chhattisgarh exceeds GSDP and other sectoral targets: survey

Raipur, Feb 26 (UNI) Chhattisgarh's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected at 12 per cent during the current fiscal, according to the government's Economic Survey of 2005-06.

The Survey, presented in the state Assembly by Chief Minister Raman Singh, who also holds the Finance portfolio, targets 13 per cent growth in agriculture in the wake of good monsoons, as against all-India growth estimated at 9.6 per cent. The manufacturing sector is likely to grow at 20 per cent, which is also about five per cent higher than the all-India level.

Per capita income, which rose from Rs 17,176 in 2004-05 to Rs 19,436 in 2005-06, is expected to touch Rs 21,745 during 2006-07.

Referring to the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-02 to 2006-07), it points out that as per the present trend of key economic indicators, the state is likely to exceed the GSDP as well as sectoral targets by the end of the current plan period ending March 2007.

Even in the penultimate year of the current five-year plan, it says that the state already achieved targets set by the Planning Commission in the first four years of the Tenth Plan. As against the GSDP growth target of 6.10 per cent, average growth of the past four years -- at constant prices -- is 7.9 per cent.

The agriculture sector achieved an average growth of 7.5 per cent as against the target of three per cent. The manufacturing sector achieved an average growth of 9.6 per cent compared to a target of 7.5 per cent. Similarly, the services sector achieved an average growth of 6.7 per cent as against a target of seven per cent.

Chhattisgarh is among the few states to have the practice of tabling the economic survey as a prelude to the presentation of the state budget.

The Budget for 2007-08 is scheduled for tomorrow.

UNI