Haryana Annual Plan 2010-11 Finalized

Annual Plan size for Haryana for the year 2010-11 was finalized here today at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Plan outlay for 2010-11 was agreed at Rs.18260 crores.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mr. Ahluwalia said the State ranks among the highest in terms of per capita income which reflects the state of economy and development. He said the fiscal norms adopted by Haryana Government have led to positive signs of improvement, despite the impact of slow down on the economy during last year. He said the consolidated debt liability as percentage of GSDP has come down and the State did not need recourse to overdraft since June, 2002.

Mr. Ahluwalia appreciated the efforts made by the State in managing drought last year and also initiatives taken for enactment of Haryana preservation of sub-soil water Act 2009 to make delayed sowing of paddy mandatory as a water saving measure. He said the State needs to go beyond this and enact an appropriate legislation on ground water to save the State from further worsening the situation of water table.

Attention was also drawn to areas relating to power, soil health, education, health and empowerment of women. Focused attention, together with increased allocation, was needed for the sectors. He also congratulated the State Government for setting up skill development mission in line with the national policy. He said skill gap analysis should be carried out for optimum results. Opening of 1500 skill development centres is a step in the right direction, he added.

The Chief Minister of Haryana Mr. Hooda said that the State would give highest priority to social services in the current year’s plan outlay. Infrastructure sector would be next on priority. He said the objective of planning was to achieve inclusive growth and State was among the best fiscally managed State in the country. The State was adopting innovative water management technologies to reduce water consumption in agriculture. He said that Planning Commission should help the State Government in addressing the problem of increasing levels of pollution in Yamuna River and reiterated demand for construction of Renuka Dam to meet increasing demand for portable water in national capital region.

Mr. Hooda said new initiatives taken include policy for engaging the NGO sector as development partners, policy on PPP projects for facilitating private sector participation in improvement of physical and social infrastructure and setting up of Haryana Infrastructure Development Board. A Joint venture company is being set up for speedy and efficient implementation of Metro projects in PPP mode. Rajiv Gandhi Urban Development Mission with an outlay of Rs.2500 crore over next five years has been launched for modernisation of cities in the State.

NNK / RK