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Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
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State wants Plan size enhanced

Special Correspondent

Resources to be identified to increase it from Rs. 21,751 crore

Power-generating stations in State demanded
Help sought to get nod for Kalasa-Banduri nala project

many demands: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa greeting Kirit Parikh, Planning Commission member in charge of Karnataka, at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said here on Wednesday that the State Government would present a budget for 2008-09, and sought the intervention of the Planning Commission to enhance the State’s Plan size.

A vote on account (until July 31) was presented in Parliament when the State was under President’s Rule, he said.

After a meeting with Kirit Parikh, Planning Commission member in charge of Karnataka, at the Vidhana Soudha, Mr. Yeddyurappa told presspersons that he would hold a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to seek a revision of the State’s annual Plan.

The State Government would identify additional resources for increasing the Plan size from Rs. 21,751 crore as mentioned in the vote on account.

The Central resources for the Plan had to be finalised in consultation with the Planning Commission, he said.

Power shortage

During the meeting, Mr. Yeddyurappa told Dr. Parikh that the Planning Commission should ensure that the State’s share from Central power-generating stations was increased to solve the problem of power shortage.

Karnataka’s power share from Central stations was only 15 per cent, while that of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh was 37 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.

Through the National Thermal Power Corporation, the Union Government should establish power-generating stations in Karnataka, he said.

The Centre has announced in the Budget that a special fund would be set up for upgrading transmission lines. It should earmark a sizeable portion of this fund for strengthening transmission infrastructure in Karnataka, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.

The Chief Minister briefed Dr. Parikh, who looks after the energy sector, on the subsidy dues to be paid to electricity supply companies, and about the assistance the State requires from the Centre in the power sector, sources said.

Water resources

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the Planning Commission should help the State in getting clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Union Ministry of Water Resources for starting work on the Kalasa-Banduri nala project, which is aimed at providing drinking water supply to Hubli and Dharwad.

Mr. Yeddyurappa also requested Dr. Parikh to ensure that the ceiling for the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme for 2008-09 was increased to Rs. 925 crore from Rs. 317.72 crore.

Ad hoc grant

Mr. Yeddyurappa told Dr. Parikh that he had urged the Union Finance Minister to sanction an ad hoc grant of Rs. 5,000 crore for the development of Bangalore’s infrastructure; to reimburse the loan waiver amount of Rs. 1,750 crore; and to issue kisan credit cards and general credit cards to small and marginal farmers.

He requested Dr. Parikh to take up these issues with the Centre.

Dr. Parikh, assured Mr. Yeddyurappa that he would take up all the demands of the State with the Union Government, the sources said.

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