Planning Commission approves Uttarakhand Annual Plan of Rs 8500 crore for 2013-14

Planning Commission has approved an annual plan outlay of Rs. 8,500 crore for Uttarakhand for the financial year 2013-14.

Meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was held in New Delhi yesterday.

Ahluwalia said, "The commission is fully aware of the infrastructure deficit in the State and constraint in meeting the cost of infrastructure development".

"The State needs to further encourage private sector participation in infrastructure development. Improved infrastructure would help the State in fully tapping the potential in sectors like tourism while catalyzing economic activity in all regions of the State", he added.

Ahluwalia further said that despite development constraints, State has done well in picking up pace of development. Although, it is still not at par with the national average on human development index yet noticeable improvements have been registered in various segments.

Planning Commission recognized the relevance of developing Teri Dam area as an international tourism destination and asked State Government to give a full presentation on the project so as to evolve a plan to fund this project.

Uttrakhand CM Bahuguna said that the industrial package given by the Central Government for the ten year from 2003 to 2013 has been prematurely withdrawn in 2010, which is adversely affecting the industrial development.

He also requested for special grant to provide adequate facilities to the tourist/pilgrims as the State had dual responsibilities of facilitating a population which is 3-4 times the population of the State. Creating civil amenities for tourists/pilgrims was an extra burden on the State's limited resources, he said.

Drawing attention to the problems being faced in the development of physical infrastructure, he said more than 200 villages are situated at mouth of land slides. Re-settlement and rehabilitation of these villages need huge resources.

He said more than Rs. 500 crore would be required to relocate and rehabilitate these villages before the disaster strikes.

The Chief Minister further sought Planning Commission support in getting green bonus for protecting forests and compensation for power projects stalled due to environmental clearances. He said despite constraints the State was well set to achieve growth rate target for the 12th Plan. Agriculture would continue to be the focus of development strategy as over 60 percent population is dependent on this sector.

(with inputs from ANI)