Rs 25,000 cr annual plan for Maharashtra for approved

Mumbai, Mar 5 (UNI) A plan of Rs 25,000 crore for Maharashtra for the year 2008-09 was today approved by the Planning Commission at a meeting in New Delhi.

The approval was given during today's meeting of chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh with Planning Commission's deputy chairman Dr M S Ahluwalia. This year's plan is Rs 4,800 crore higher than the previous year, an official release said here.

The Planning Commission expressed satisfaction over the performance shown by the state government in various sectors and the formation of the minority welfare department in the state.

The chief minister had demanded allocation of Rs 210 crore for Youth Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in October at Pune. He had also demanded Rs 400 crore for the Mithi river beautification project.

The chief minister was accompanied by state finance minister Jayant Patil, Planning Commission executive chairman Dr Ratnakar Mahajan and chief secretary Johny Joseph.

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