The Planning Commission on Monday approved Rs. 6,800 crore annual plan outlay for Uttarakhand for the year 2010-11.
The Rs. 6,800 crore plan outlay for the State was finalised here at a meeting between the Commission’s Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal, an official statement said.
Complimenting the State on successful completion of Maha Kumbh Mela, Ahluwalia said the efforts to restore the river Ganga and Haridwar city, must be continued.
The Centre and State should work together to implement the on-going projects of the Ganga Action Plan, he said during the plan outlay discussion.
Appreciating the efforts to place the State on sound economic path, Ahluwalia said that Uttarakhand has great potential in terms of natural resources, which should be harnessed to generate sustainable growth and income opportunities for people.
The State has estimated that to achieve growth envisaged by the thirteenth finance commission, it would require an investment of about Rs. 75,000 crore of which Rs. 40,000 crore must come from the private sector.
It is critical that the State puts in place policies that enables private investment of this magnitude to materialise, Ahluwalia said.
He pointed out that there is a need to give great emphasis on livelihood programmes, and improvement of farm productivity and income opportunities in rural areas.
Ahluwalia also discussed the uneven development between the hilly and plain districts of the State, with much of the growth concentrated in the latter.
Briefing the Commission on the development strategy, the Chief Minister said that thrust areas of annual plan would be physical infrastructure including roads, bridges and power.
He said that public private partnership (PPP) would be encouraged in infrastructure both physical and social.
He added efforts are on to further improve tourism related infrastructure and to get education hub status for the state. He asked for plan panel’s help in restoring industrial package benefit to the State.
