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| Plan size to guide coalition’s plans | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, March 17: While the coalition government of National Conference and the Congress is yet to make a difference and deliver on the promises for a range of reasons, much of its performance in the coming future depends on what Jammu and Kashmir gets in its Annual Plan discussions for which are underway with the Planning Commission in New Delhi.
Formal discussions between officials of the Planning Commission and the officials of Jammu and Kashmir government began this morning and the final meeting is slated for the afternoon of Wednesday. Annual Plan size is likely to be finalized tomorrow.
The state government has already proposed an annual plan size of Rs 6500 Crores and implementation of most of its projects and promises depends on what the Planning Commission agrees to. Of the major priorities and also challenges of the state government are implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and holding of Panchayat elections later this year.
The plan proposal made by Jammu and Kashmir is far higher than the neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh which are economically well off and have better infrastructure profile. Himachal Pradesh got its Annual Plan for the year 2009-10 been fixed at Rs. 2700 crore ending last month. The plan was Rs. 300 crore ( 12.50%) higher in comparison to current annual Plan and the Planning Commission provided Rs. 500 crore as special plan assistance to the state in comparison to the special plan assistance of Rs. 450 crore during the plan size of 2008-2009
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Plan expenditure has grown by over 150 per cent as compared with 2001-02. During the same period development expenditure has shown a growth of 276 per cent. It may be recalled that when Abdul Rahim Rather was the Finance Minister last time, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had sought an outlay of Rs 2000 crore for the state’s annual Plan for 2001-2002. This included the revenue share of Rs 806.40 crore and capital share of Rs 1193.60 crore.
The Annual Plan of Jammu & Kashmir for 2008-09 was fixed at Rs 4,500 crore. That time the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad led discussions with the Planning Commission which was represented by its Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
This year’s plan size will also determine that the outlook of state’s full budget which the Finance Minister Minister Abdul Rahim Rather is expected to present in assembly in June or July. It may be mentioned here that one of the important reasons for presenting Vote on Account in the recently concluded assembly session was that the Planning Commission of India had not yet finalised the plan size of the State.
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