The Hindu : Front Page : Plan panel agrees to provide Rs.16,000 crore for State

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Plan panel agrees to provide Rs.16,000 crore for State

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

finalising plan: Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan calling on Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Monday.

Chennai: Consequent to the Tamil Nadu Government’s performance in executing the last year’s annual plan, the Planning Commission has agreed to provide Rs. 16,000 crore for the State.

The Annual Plan for Tamil Nadu for 2008-09 was finalised in New Delhi on Monday at a meeting between Finance Minister Anbazhagan and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is expected to make a formal announcement on the plan size and priorities on Tuesday.

Officials said the State had got what it had wanted to carry forward the capital and development works that it had planned to execute next year.

Last year, the Plan outlay was Rs 14,000 crore. This included an additional Central assistance of Rs.200 crore provided for projects of special assistance to the State. Normally, for States that are able to raise resources to utilise the allocated plan size, a ten per cent increase is the norm for the succeeding year. But because the State performed well in all parameters, it had sought more than the norm. This has been agreed to, according to sources. The State, during the Eleventh Plan period, has an outlay of Rs.80,000 crore.

Mr. Karunanidhi has made it clear that agriculture would get top priority.

He also wanted the Planning Commission to ensure Central funding for the peninsular component of inter-linking of rivers project during the Eleventh Plan period because this would help State in revitalising agriculture, benefiting millions.

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