The Hindu : 10 per cent rise in Delhi Plan

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Thursday, May 01, 2003

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10 per cent rise in Delhi Plan

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 30. The Annual Plan for Delhi for 2003-04 was finalised today and fixed at Rs. 5,025 crores, an increase of around 10 per cent. The Plan was finalised at a meeting between the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, K.C. Pant. The Delhi Finance Minister, Mahinder Singh Saathi, was also present on the occasion.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Pant termed Delhi as one of the best which has been maintaining strong economic profile and had one of the best revenue basis in the country. He complimented the State Government for the progress made in Mass Rapid Transport System but pointed out that bus-staff ration in DTC was still higher than the all-India figure. On the reforms in the power sector, he said despite unbundling of Delhi Vidyut Board, transmission and distribution losses continue to be high and there was a need to reduce T&D losses and increase Plant Load Factor.

He said during the last financial year, revenue receipts of Delhi were Rs. 6,538.60 crores. Efforts should be made to fully tap the revenue potential of the territory. He said the State needs to prioritise efforts in the light of high Gross State Domestic Product growth rate fixed for the Tenth Five Year Plan. Attention was drawn to the availability of safe drinking water, growing slums and inadequate sewerage and waste disposal systems. The State Government was asked to adopt rain harvesting techniques and optimum utilisation of additional Central assistance provided under national slum development programme. It was pointed out that nearly 30 lakh people were living in slums. The increasing pollution level was seriously affecting the health of masses and 48 km stretch of Yamuna river was heavily polluted and unfit even for animal consumption and irrigation.

On her part, the Chief Minister briefed the Commission on the performance of the State during the last year and the new initiatives being taken to improve the life of the people. She said the State has a per capita plan outlay of Rs. 3,160 which is among the highest in the country. More than 53 per cent of the outlay has been allocated to social service sector and over 90 per cent of the Plan outlay was being financed through internal resources.

Ms. Dikshit said power supply had increased by nearly 3,600 million units during the last four years. Water supply capacity has been improved and by the end of current financial year it will be raised to 810 MGD. A total of 14 new flyovers have been constructed and work has started on 11 new flyovers. She said Phase I of MRTS would be completed by 2005, the entire public transport system has been switched to CNG fuel and ambient air quality status has improved. The Plan expenditure of Delhi Government, which stood at 96 per cent, was the highest in the country and came in for praise from the Planning Commission.

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