Karnataka fails to get sufficient funds from Centre

Bangalore, May 5 (UNI) Karnataka has failed to get sufficient funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) as it failed to submit proposals for financial assistance from the Centre in time, Planning Commission member Kirit S Parikh said today.

Speaking at the valedictory function of a seminar '11th Five Year Plan of Karnataka: Perspective', jointly organised by the Karnataka State Planning Board and Institute for Social and Economic Changes here, he said ''Karnataka failed to submit plans in time and get larger share of the fund.'' Stating that the infrastructure facilities in Bangalore, touted as the 'Knowledge Capital' of the country, needed to be upgraded, Dr Parikh said the State Government could do a lot more than what the Centre could do, in this regard. ''To improve infrastructure assets and its better management, there is a need to involve private participation and moot more public-private partnerships,'' he added.

Despite reforms introduced in the power sector long back, little progress was seen, while transmission and distribution loss remained the same, he mentioned.

Lauding the Gujarat Government's success in segregating agriculture sector from power feeders, he said it had helped in rationalising and ensuring eight hours of unhindered power supply, especially to the farming sector.

He said that despite making heavy investments in the irrigation sector, most of the state governments failed to bridge the gap between the money spent on the projects and the potential created.

''The Planning Commission takes this issue very seriously and has decided to hold a study to ascertain the lacunae. It has identified over 50 irrigation projects, which have been funded by the Centre under the Accelerated Irrigation Projects to monitor the progress to realise full potential,'' he said.

Dr Parikh said while the Planning Commission accorded top priority to higher education, it should consider Vocational Training Institutions' importance in imparting skills among the youth.

The Planning Commission was worried about the lack of access to health services in rural areas and called for motivating more doctors to work in rural places, he said.

UNI