The Hindu 28.06.2013
Annual plan pegged at Rs. 2000 crore
The annual plan outlay of the Union Territory of Puducherry for the fiscal 2013-14 has been pegged at Rs. 2000 crore.
The
outlay was arrived at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the
Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Puducherry Chief
Minister N. Rangasamy in New Delhi on Thursday.
The plan size is Rs. 1,000 crore less than the previous year.
The
Commission had approved Rs. 3000 crore for 2012-13 that included Rs.
800 crore, which was asked to be generated by the territorial
administration through World Bank for “Thane” cyclone rehabilitation.
However, it did not materialise reportedly due to non-approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The
Planning Commission has totally agreed to the plan size proposal
submitted by the territorial administration based on the decision taken
at the Puducherry Planning Board meeting held recently.
Asked about the outcome of the meeting with the Planning Commission, Mr. Rangasamy told
The Hindu
over phone from New Delhi that he was satisfied with the outcome.
“It went off well. The Commission totally agreed to the plan size proposal. It is a realistic plan.”
A
senior official, who participated in the meeting, said that Mr.
Ahluwalia appreciated the territorial administration for the realistic
demand considering the current financial situation.
Mr. Ahluwalia also termed the downsized plan proposal a bold step, the official said.
The discussion was centred on the implementation of various tourism projects in Puducherry.
Tapping
of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, particularly Jawaharlal Nehru Urban
Renewable Mission (JNNURM), expansion of Puducherry airport with the
support of Tamil Nadu government, setting up an airport in Karaikal with
private initiative, setting up of a power plant in Karaikal under the
Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, connecting Karaikal with national
power grid and others were discussed in the meeting.
Chetan
B. Sanghi, Chief Secretary; K.R. Meena, Resident Commissioner; W.V.R.
Murthy, Secretary, Finance; P.R. Meena, Secretary, Public Works
Department attended the meeting.