Social security sector gets priority in HP plan of Rs 2400 crore

Shimla, Feb 13 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh's Annual Plan for the next financial year (2008-2009) has been fixed at Rs 2,400 crore, which is Rs 300 crore higher in comparison to this year.

The Annual Plan was finalized in a meeting held between Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at New Delhi today.

Mr Dhumal said social services sector has been given top priority in the plan size and Rs 818 crore has been allocated to the social service sector, which is 34 per cent of the total plan size.

Agriculture and allied sector, rural development, irrigation and flood control, energy, transport and communications and general economic services has been allocated Rs 251 crore, Rs 116 crore, Rs 296 crore Rs 329 crore, Rs 374 crore and Rs 87 crore respectively, he said.

He said out of total plan size the general plan, scheduled caste sub plan, tribal sub plan and backward area sub plan has been allocated Rs 1,53,870.75 lakh, Rs 59,400.400 lakh, Rs 21,600 lakh and Rs 5,129.25 lakh respectively.

The Chief Minister disclosed that four major and medium irrigation projects that included Shahnehar, Sidhatha, Changer and Balh valley irrigation schemes would be completed during the 11th five year plan and said that a provision of Rs 130 crore has been made for undertaking speedy and time bound construction of these projects.

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