Bihar CM pleased over approval of plan size of Rs 24,000 crore

Patna, Feb 16 (ANI): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday expressed his pleasure over the decision of the Planning Commission to approve the plan size of Rs 24,000 crore for Bihar for next fiscal.

"By way of approving the plan size of Rs 24,000 crore for next fiscal, the planning commission had fulfilled the needs and expectations of Bihar," Kumar told reporters on his arrival from the national capital, where he met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Kumar, however, insisted on getting a special grant of Rs 4,100 crore per annum during the next five-year plan period.

"But, I still insist on getting a special grant of Rs 4,100 crore per annum during the next five year plan period... I strongly raised the demand over the issue during my meeting," he added.

The Chief Minister further said he informed Ahluwalia about the steps taken by the Bihar Government for improvement in the energy sector.

"We have to work for setting up new thermal power plants, change 72,000 km-long transmission line wire and ensure repair or change of transformer within 72 hours in rural areas and 24 hours in towns and for which we will require additional funds," Kumar said.

Ahead of the annual budget, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday met Mukherjee seeking 'special category state' status for Bihar and allotment of over Rs 3100 crore for it under Backward Region Grant Fund special plan in 2011-12.

In his memorandum to Mukherjee, Kumar said that the state requires fund to the tune of Rs 3145.43 crore in the coming financial year for completing on-going schemes under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF).

Besides, he also sought a special annual BRGF assistance of Rs 4,000 crore during 12th Plan for the state arguing that Bihar's historically large development deficit needs to be shared between the Central and the state governments.

Kumar also called for reducing the number of Centrally-sponsored schemes saying their requirements for state's shares pre-empt the state governments' discretion to use their resources as per their own needs and compel the states to adopt 'one size fits all' schemes. (ANI)