Srinagar, June 18: Much to the expectations of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the Planning Commission Friday approved the projected Rs 6000 crore plan outlay for the state for 2010-11 to lend impetus to the development works. Besides the Commission also gave nod to Rs 1200 crore financial assistance under the Prime Ministers Reconstruction Program for JK at a 2-hour long meeting between the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led state team with the Planning Commission members headed by its Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at New Delhi.
Terming his meeting with the PC as “fruitful and positive” Omar told Greater Kashmir having got the plan finalized at a “decent time”, the government would now make maximum use of the approved funds.
Besides Omar, the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Secretary SS Kapoor, Economic Advisor, Jaleel Ahmad Khan, Principal Secretary to the CM, Khursheed Ganai and top officials of the Finance, Planning and other departments were part of the JK team.
Ahead of approval to the plan by the PC, Omar who is also heading the state’s Planning Department had given one hour power point presentation about the development scenario and ongoing works in different state sectors before the Commission.
“I also highlighted the difficulties and challenges which our economy is facing especially on account of losses in power sector. The state economy annually loses more than Rs 2,000 crore due to poor Transmission and Distribution network. We can ill afford it and have to ensure speedy implementation of power reforms,” said Omar.
On T&D losses, which were the highest - 65 percent - for the last fiscal, reports quoted Omar as saying, “This is something we are working on. We are trying to put in place a turnaround plan with the help of union power ministry to bring it down to acceptable levels.”
Omar assured the Commission that his government would create investment friendly environment and fiscal discipline would be maintained to make process of development more sustainable. The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister for liberal financial support to Jammu and Kashmir.
The JK’s plan size for the last fiscal was Rs 5500 crore besides Rs 1200 crore financial assistance under PMRP.
“Not only did the Commission approve Rs 6,000 crore plan size and Rs 1,200 crore financial assistance under PMRP, it approved Rs 4,606 crore additional resources to fully fund and finance the plan,” said Commissioner/Secretary, Planning BB Vyas. “It is very encouraging plan. The Planning Commission was impressed with the power point presentation by the Chief Minister.” He said the Chief Minister gave a detailed presentation on the state employment policy framed to tackle the unemployment.
Economic Advisor Jaleel Ahmad Khan said the state government was realistic in pitching the demand of Rs 6000 crore plan size and the Planning Commission and union Finance Ministry were helpful in lending their support. The state government’s performance in ensuring more than 96 percent (Rs 5281 crores) expenditure of the Rs 5500 crore plan size for the last fiscal despite delay in approval due to the assembly and parliamentary elections, encouraged the Commission to approve the plan size. The meeting had noted with satisfaction the 90 percent funds availability under PMRP with Rs 732.47 crores having been spent out of allocated Rs 813 crore.
The Commission is learnt to have appreciated government’s plan to develop 690 MW power generation project in PPP mode while favouring that the hydroelectric potential needed to be exploited as it holds key to the state’s economic growth. The Commission has asked the state government to take steps to draw up a skill development plan to enhance employability of youth.
Reviewing the implementation of the flagship PMRP in JK, the meeting expressed satisfaction over the execution of works in the state sector which includes completion of Baglihar-I and Khanabal-Pahalgam Road and other projects.
However, the Commission has observed that there were large gaps in the delivery of health services mainly due to shortage of manpower, asking the state government to take appropriate steps to fill these critical gaps and have focused attention on inclusive growth.
It has asked the state government to work out an action plan for rapid development during 12th plan period to ensure that development reaches to grassroots level.
Though the meeting to fix the plan size had got delayed, the Finance Minister had already incorporated the figure of Rs 6000 crore worth annual plan and Rs 1200 crore PMRP in the budget presented by him in the state legislature in March this year subject to change in the plan size figures in the final PC meeting.
The government had authorized the DDCs to utilize 50 percent revenue component and 25 percent capital component till the finalization of plan for their respective districts. The government had, however, made it clear that the 25 percent capital component should only be utilized for the ongoing schemes so that their completion doesn’t get delayed for want of funds. Planning Department has also given authorization for utilization of cent percent funds in the remote and inaccessible areas in all the districts purely as per last year’s ceiling.
Vyas said the government would now fix the dates for holding the District Development meetings to ensure timely allocation of funds for speedy execution of the works. The dates for holding DDB meeting for Srinagar and Jammu have already been worked out.
Later, interacting with the waiting newsmen the Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister for being credibly supportive of Jammu and Kashmir. He said in the light of funds and resource availability the State Government would do its best to bring the turn around.

Highlights

* Rs 7200 cr plan including Rs 1200 cr under PMRP

* Additional resources of  Rs 4606 cr to fully fund the plan

* Plan to focus on employment generation

* Govt to pursue reforms in Urban Development,Power sector

* Of Rs 5500 cr plan size for last fiscal,Rs 5281 cr spent

* Rs 700 cr schemes implemented under projected mode

 * CM invites Planning Commission team to Kashmir

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST