Plan Comm okays Rs 24,000 cr outlay for Rajasthan

The Planning Commission today approved a Plan outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for Rajasthan for 2010-11.

"We have agreed for a Plan size of Rs 24,000 crore for Rajasthan. Earlier it was less but then we rounded it up as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had added a few extra things in it such as the High Court building," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said.

He was talking to reporters after meeting the Rajasthan Chief Minister here.

Ahluwalia said that Gehlot had briefed the Commission about a water-related project in Rajasthan and "if there can be a scheme for water, some special assistance can be provided, we will have a look at it."

Ahluwalia said that Rajasthan's performance in tribal development was appreciable and various issues and projects for which the state could be given support were also discussed.

Listing power, infrastructure and social sector as the priority areas for his government, Gehlot said, "Water shortage is the biggest problem that we face."

He said that special annual assistance of Rs 3,045 crore should be provided to the state for drinking water projects in the next eight years.

Referring to the Jaipur Metro Rail Project, the Chief Minister stated that the ambitious project would be implemented in time-bound manner and its estimated cost be around Rs 7,500 crore.

He requested that 20 per cent of the total cost of this project should be provided by the Union government.

One-time additional central assistance was sanctioned for construction of High Court building in Jodhpur and development of Dargah and Anna Sagar Lake area in Ajmer.

The annual Plan outlay for 2010-11 is Rs 6,678 crore more than the Rs 17,322 crore sanctioned for 2009-10.