Odisha annual plan size fixed at Rs 11,000 Crore

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday told the Planning Commission that his government's consistent and focused efforts had helped the state achieve an average annual growth rate of 9.51 per cent during the 10th Plan against the target of 6.20 per cent and aims to maintain the tempo during the 11th Plan period.

The chief minister at the meeting maintained that the government has undertaken several initiatives to achieve higher broad-based inclusive growth, faster overall development and accelerated poverty reduction'. The delivery mechanism and outreach of public services had been improved resulting in progressively increasing annual plan sizes. "Odisha has increased its annual plan outlays by more than four times from Rs.2,500 crore in 2004-05 to Rs.11,000 crore in 2010-11", he pointed out.

Patnaik said this during discussions with the Planning Commission where the state's annual plan size was fixed at Rs 11,000 crore. The state government had during the last Assembly session got a four-month interim budget passed stating that it would place the full budget only after knowing the 13th finance commission recommendations for the state. The state government later expressed dissatisfaction over the commission's awards.

He said the state had made commendable efforts to improve fiscal health and plan performance and to create investor-friendly environment for attracting private investments. He endorsed the Central government's initiative on right to education and urged the Planning Commission to convene a meeting of National Development Council (NDC) as early as possible to discuss and devise modalities for substantial Central funding for the purpose. He also urged the Planning Commission for a special annual dispensation of Rs.300 crore for Odisha portion of the Ranchi-Vijayawada highway till the completion of the project.

He stressed the need for expeditious approval of an 8-Year Perspective Plan of Rs.4,550 crore for development saturation of the KBK region, that has been prepared in consultation with Planning Commission and submitted for approval, immediate increase in the special central assistance from Rs.130 crore to Rs.500 crore a year for the KBK region for the year 2010-11, appropriate modifications in the guidelines for APDRP II so that the states like Odisha adversely impacted by power sector reforms could be benefited.

The chief minister further demanded inclusion of the state for implementation of the Central government initiative for development of pulses and oilseeds, allocation of 500 MW of power from the Central un-allocated share and NTPC Kaniha Stage II to help address the current power deficit situation in the state.

Source: TOI