MP Plan size pegged at Rs 23,000 cr, up 21%

With a handsome increase of 21 per cent in its Plan size, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has got it pegged at Rs 23,000 crore for 2011-12 from the Planning Commission.

Since 2005-06, when the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party set in groove, the Plan size has increased considerably from Rs 9,100 crore to Rs 23,000 crore.

Although Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a presentation before Plan panel Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and demanded more for the agri sector to meet his target of achieving five per cent growth in the sector, the Plan panel sanctioned Rs 2,373 crore for agriculture and allied activities.

Of the total size, the break-up of sanctions is: rural development Rs 1,949 crore; irrigation Rs 3,073 crore; education Rs 5,417 crore; health Rs 398 crore; energy Rs 1,674 crore; roads Rs 2,328 crore and other services Rs 9,277 crore.

The state will also get an additional amount of Rs 70 crore as central assistance, a government official informed Business Standard.

Chouhan had also demanded more funds to connect villages of population up to 700 to pucca roads and creation of employment for 200 days under NREG scheme, the official informed.

For the first time, the state plan size has gone up by Rs 4,000 crore from Rs 19,000 crore the previous year. Yet, the state has not produced utility certificates of the funds granted by the Central government in various Central projects and schemes.

“Particularly, funds for the agriculture sector lapsed this year,” said a government insider. “Refinance institutions like Nabard have plenty of funds but the state has no proper planning or strategy for development.”

A recent CAG report has also revealed the sordid picture of implementation of central government schemes in the state.

The state economic survey also reveals agriculture sector needs immediate investment, particularly in irrigation as only 33 per cent of cultivable land is irrigated.