Uttarakhand annual plan size fixed at Rs 5,574 crore

The Planning Commission approved the annual plan outlay for Uttarakhand for the year 2009-10 at Rs 5,574.7 crore.

The plan was approved at a meeting between Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister R P Nishank at New Delhi. Last year, the plan size was Rs 4,775 crore.

This includes additional central assistance of Rs 400 crore for the Maha Kumbh Mela at Haridwar that will be held next year.

Commenting on the performance of the state, Ahluwalia said the growth rate was good and even plan expenditure was encouraging.

“Ahluwalia was very positive about Uttarakhand,” a top official here said.

Nishank said emphasis would continue on social sector and this was clearly reflected in both the Eleventh Plan and the Annual Plan proposals.

Nishank said that the Centre should supplement efforts to bring Uttarakhand at par with other developed states.

He said the tax holiday period should be extended up to 2020 to keep up the present pace of industrialisation in the state.