The Planning Commission of India on Friday approved the Annual Plan 2013-14 of Rs.16,000 crore for Delhi. This is 21 per cent higher than the Plan expenditure of the previous fiscal 2012-13.
In addition, the Commission approved an amount of Rs.626 crore under PSU Plan which includes Rs.106 crore for Delhi Transco Limited, Rs.500 crore for Pragati Power Corporation Limited and Rs.20 crore for Delhi Financial Corporation.
The announcement came after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finalise the quantum of the Plan. Ms. Dikshit stressed the need for allocating due share in lieu of Central Taxes to Delhi and stated that it has been frozen at Rs.325 crore since 2001-02.
She also requested the Planning Commission to look into the difficulties being faced by her government due to non-commissioning of Munak Canal, delay in completion of peripheral expressways, non-availability of gas for Bawana and the proposed Bamnauli plants.
While speaking to media persons after the meeting, Ms. Dikshit said the Commission appreciated the present power situation in Delhi and called upon the Government to concentrate on sewerage projects and improvement in water distribution. It also took note of the ongoing Yamuna Interceptor Scheme and appreciated the proposed Delhi Metro expansion project.
She also said that her government would continue to generate its own resources to make Delhi a welfare state as it has been spending 65 per cent of its allocation on social sector. Further, the Planning Commission appreciated the new programmes initiated by the Delhi Government towards the welfare of poor and vulnerable households.
Ms. Dikshit noted that the proposal of the Delhi Government to bring all welfare schemes providing financial support in the form of pension, scholarship, subsidy within the ambit of Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme with effect from July 2013 was very much appreciated by Mr. Ahluwalia as this process will enable the government to provide the benefits to the targets groups in a time-bound, transparent and cost effective manner.
