PONDICHERRY: Lt. Governor of Pondicherry Lakhera has said that the Planning Commission had approved a plan size of Rs 1,410 core for the Union Territory for the year 2006-2007, as against the approved outlay of Rs 810 crore for the current year (2005-2006). Presenting his customary address in the State Assembly (the first meeting of the House in the current year) on Thursday, he said that a lion's share of the plan funds would be spent on infrastructure projects.

The size of the Tenth Plan for Union Territory of Pondicherry had thus climbed to an appreciable figure of Rs 3830.68 crore, as against the outlay of Rs 1906.49 crore earlier fixed by the Planning Commission in the beginning of the tenth plan. "It is a great achievement of my Government that the plan size has been doubled," he said adding that the Commission had also appreciated the plan performance and efforts of the Government in resource mobilisation.

Mr. Lakhera said that the Pondicherry was gradually shifting from agricultural to non-agricultural activities. Estimates of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was Rs 4,188 crore at current prices for the year 2001-2002 which had risen to Rs 7,196 crore for the year 2005-2006 registering an average growth of 12 per cent per annum. Secondary sector was major contributor to the growth in the GSDP registering an average growth of 20 per cent per annum during the tenth plan. "We should maintain it to achieve an all round economic growth in Union Territory," Lakhera pointed out.

Sources of attraction

Lt Governor said that a viable industrial climate, investor friendly administration, cheap and quality power were major sources of attraction for industrial development of Pondicherry.

Mr. Lakhera also said a good communication network, road connectivity and fiscal incentives offered to new industrial units had resulted in establishment of large industrial units during the last five years. He said that a survey of the Confederation of Indian Industry in five southern States during the first six months of the fiscal 2005-2006 revealed that Pondicherry recorded robust performance in IT hardware sector.

He highlighted the development in various sectors and also in implementation of welfare schemes in fisheries, agriculture, education, and livestock and dairy sectors.

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