Plan panel approves TN's Rs 23,535-cr outlay for FY12

The Planning Commission today approved Tamil Nadu's annual Plan of Rs 23,535 crore for 2011-12, which is Rs 3,467 crore higher than last fiscal's outlay.

The state annual Plan was finalised here at a meeting between Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa.

Briefing the media after the meemting, Ahluwalia said a complete review of the financial situation of Tamil Nadu was done during the session.

"The Chief Minister gave a comprehensive picture of the situations and the problems being faced by the state. We really appreciate the Chief Minister for planning to come out with a Vision 2025 document," he said.

Jayalalithaa said the allocation was as per the state government's expectations.

"This is what we have expected from the Central Government. We are quite happy with this allocation," she said.

On the special assistance package of over Rs 2.5 lakh crore sought by the state, Jayalalithaa said no decision on this has been taken so far.

"As far as the special assistance package that I sought from the Prime Minister is concerned, most of those things are not included in the plan outlay. They do not come under the Union Planning Commission," the Chief Minister said.

She called upon the Plan panel to take up the issue with the central government.

"I hope that the Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission will make positive recommendations to our request," Jayalalithaa said.

As per a statement issued after the meeting, Ahluwalia complimented Tamil Nadu new efforts and initiatives aimed at accelerating growth and making it more inclusive.

He pointed out the human development index of the state was better than the national average.

The Plan panel chief said the focus of the development initiatives in the 12th Plan period (2012-17) should be on sectors like energy, health, water and urbanisation.

Ahluwalia said that in the process of rebuilding the state, emphasis should also be on improving revenue generation and stressed on public private partnership in development of roads and health sector.

Briefing the Commission, Jayalalithaa said that her government has inherited poor fiscal health with outstanding debt crossing Rs 1 lakh crore.

She said investments in agriculture, industry and basic infrastructure would be considerably enhanced to restore Tamil Nadu's attractiveness to investors.