Karnataka plan size fixed at Rs.47,000 crore

Karnataka's plan size for 2013-14 was Wednesday fixed at Rs.47,000 crore with the central government and centrally-sponsored schemes contributing over Rs.10,500 crore, an official statement said.

The plan size was finalised at a meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia here, the statement said.

The central government assistance to the plan would be Rs.3,549 crore and another Rs.7,000 crore was expected from various centrally-sponsored schemes, it said.

The statement said Ahluwalia appreciated the state government for its strategy to make growth more inclusive and giving right priority to social sector.

He said Karnataka can play a more important role in giving lead to other states in introducing technology for improving governance.

Ahluwalia suggested that the state should give more focussed attention to agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

He also wanted public-private partnership to be encouraged to expedite development, the statement said.

Ahluwalia said special attention should be given to education, health sectors and removing regional imbalance.

Siddaramaiah assured Ahluwalia that his government was committed to provide adequate outlays for education, health, women and child development, social welfare, housing, water supply and sanitation and rural development.

He told Ahluwalia that the central government should help the state in strengthening infrastructure for post-harvest facilities, restore custom duty on raw silk to 30 percent to prevent farmers from opting for distress sales and assist in marketing surplus milk.