Jammu, Dec 22: Jammu and Kashmir Government is pushing for early approval of annual plan allocation for fiscal 2012-13 to avoid the situation it faced last year when plan was approved in May, delaying the release of funds for developmental projects.
 Sources said that officials are waiting for invitation from Planning Commission of India (PCI) for holding second round of meeting, which is likely to be held by the mid of January. J&K’s annual plan, Prime Ministers Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) would be discussed in the proposed meeting and the state would also urge the PCI to consider release of the funds early so that the projects may not suffer for want of money, sources said.
 First meeting between the state official team and the Centre was held on December 15 in New Delhi as part of the preliminary round of talks on the plan projections for next fiscal.
 “This year government is trying its level best to get the approval of the plan before the budget session so that the funds are released in time and short working period is utilized properly”, said a source from Planning Department.
 He said that last year implementing agencies had to face lot of problems as the wrap up meeting between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia was held on June 15 and the actual fund flow started in July-August.
 It is pertinent to mention here that Montek Singh Ahluwalia had asked J&K to present projections for 12th five-year plan, which would be starting from April 1, 2012. The 11th five-year plan is ending during the current financial year.
 When contacted, Finance Minister A R Rather said the state was hoping to start the work early this year. “As per the programme, administrative heads of various government departments will take part in Working Group (WG) meeting to present sector-wise requirements after getting next invitation”, he said.
 The Finance Minister said that keeping in view the advantages of early plan formulation the state would try to get early approval from the Centre so that funds are released in time.
 Officials said that though a formal decision on projection of next fiscal year's plan was yet to be taken by the Cabinet, J&K is expected to seek Rs 7300 crore worth annual plan, indicating a 10 per cent hike over current year's plan. This year the state had got Rs 6600 crore plan.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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