Maha proposes 10.5 per cent GDP growth for 12th plan

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told the NDC meeting that the accelerated pace of development is planned to be achieved by four per cent growth in agriculture and 11 per cent each in industry and services sector.

At the same time, he made it clear that the realisation of the target was subject to monsoon being normal as Maharashtra is 83 per cent rainfed.

An outlay of Rs 2,75,000 crore has been proposed for the state for the 12th plan.

The average growth rate of Maharashtra during the 11th plan was 8.6 per cent against the targeted growth rate of 9.1 per cent and was higher than the corresponding GDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent.

The Chief Minister said that special efforts would be required to push the industrial growth rate to 11 per cent in the next plan while the growth rate in service sector is "achievable".

Making a strong plea to the Planning Commission to initiate a scheme of 'Green Bonus', he said that such a programme is needed for providing special funds to districts like Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondia and Amravati which carry the burden of maintaining forest cover and have a huge development backlog.

The Chief Minister said that Maharashtra plans to take up 'Dryland Farming Mission' in a big way during the 12th plan so that an additional 100 lakh hectare area is brought under protective irrigation. MORE