Annual plans to states deferred till Lok Sabha polls

The annual plans for the fiscal year 2014-15 for states earmarked by the Planning Commission will be finalised after the general elections, officials said here Saturday.

"The official and chief ministerial level discussions with the Planning Commission have not been held yet. These discussions are expected to be take place after the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," Tripura's Additional Chief Secretary K.V. Satyanarayan, in-charge of the finance department, told IANS.

He said: "Generally, during the months of March-April, the Planning Commission holds discussions with officials and chief ministers of all states to finalise the annual plan."

"In view of the general elections, the annual plan discussions have been deferred."

The annual plan fixed by the Planning Commission has been projected in the state budget of each state.

Many states have already approved their budgets in their state assemblies or are in the process of getting an approval.

The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule of the general elections to constitute the 16th Lok Sabha within a week, an official said.

"The commission is likely to conduct the elections in five or six phases across the country," a top official told IANS.