The Hindu Business Line : Orissa annual Plan fixed at Rs 3,200 cr

THE annual plan of Orissa for the current fiscal has been fixed at Rs 3,200 crore here at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr. K.C. Pant, and the Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, here.

In his remarks, Mr Pant said the Union Cabinet has approved inclusion of a special plan for the undivided KBK districts of Orissa under the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana and hoped that with the joint efforts of the State and the Central Government, it would be possible to make a visible impact on the lives of the people in this region. He said the need now is to ensure efficient allocation of resources and vigorous implementation of programmes.

Mr Pant lauded the efforts of the State to right size bureaucracy, mobilisation of additional resources through streamlining of sales tax administration, introduction of professional tax and restructuring of State-owned enterprises.

However, he expressed concern over the finances of the State as its entire Plan outlay was being financed from borrowings and the position was likely to aggravate. He cautioned optimal utilisation of Central funds at the State disposal and suggested special attention to agriculture.

He said the State development report released recently would help the policy makers to set the agenda for socio-economic development of the state, which was rich in natural resources.

Briefing the Commission, the Chief Minister said the State has evolved strategies aimed at 6.2 per cent growth rate for the Tenth-Plan period. These include improvement in investment efficiency, focus on creation of productive infrastructure in rural areas, increased spending on social sector and empowering poor to participate in economic growth.

He said the reform measures introduced have started giving results. The State's own tax and non-tax revenue rose by 21 per cent last year and revenue deficit was reduced from 6.76 per cent in 1999-2000 to 4.26 per cent last year. He also reiterated his Government's long-pending demand for declaring Orissa as a "special category State".

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