Gujarat for greater financial assistance to DDP areas

The state also suggested that funding pattern of centrally -sponsored schemes should not be changed to the disadvantage of the states for the duration of a Five Year Plan period.

Gujarat Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel said the current economic scenario needs a strong vision for sustained growth. Financial self-reliance of the states needs to be strengthened so that they continue to contribute to India's GDP.

Speaking at the pre-budget meeting convened by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to obtain ideas and suggestions from state governments, Patel appraised that under present AIBP guidelines, the Centre provides financial assistance to the tune of 90 per cent in DPAP areas and only 25 per cent in DDP areas.

Certain command areas of Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat besides some parts of Rajasthan fall under DPAP and DDP areas but are not covered under AIBP run by the Water Resources Ministry and, therefore, Gujarat is not getting requisite benefit under the scheme, a statement from the state government said.

He said Gujarat has taken a "leap forward" in the inter- basin transfer of water by constructing Sardar Sarovar dam and its associated canal system. Planning Commission has recently approved the revised cost of the project at Rs 39,240 crore.

With the completion of the project, additional irrigation potential to the extent of 12.96 lakh hectares would be created particularly in drought-prone desert areas.

Patel said Gujarat welcomes well