Assam's annual outlay fixed at Rs.12,500 crore

Assam's annual plan outlay for 2013-14 has been fixed at Rs.12,500 crore, a statement said Tuesday.

The annual plan outlay was fixed at a meeting between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi, said an official statement issued by the chief minister's office here.

The outlay is an increase of Rs.2,000 crore compared to last year's Rs.10,500 crore, the statement said.

Ahluwalia also praised the state government for the infrastructure development and added that the state has been impressive in sectors like agriculture, infrastructure development, health and education.

He also appreciated the state government for improving the key parameters in so far as reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).

He said he would be keen to organize a major conference in association with industry chamber CII in Guwahati in November this year in which ambassadors and experts from South East Asia, Singapore and other countries would take part.

He said that the conference will highlight the infrastructure development that have taken place in the past ten years in Assam and the changes that would usher in the next four-five years to attract investments in a big way.

Ahluwalia also requested Gogoi to extend support to the Subansiri hydro electric project as "it would bring huge benefits not only to the northeast region but the country as a whole". Gogoi, however, told him that the state government is only concerned about the safety aspect of the project.