The Hindu : Bengal Plan finalised at Rs. 3,894 cr.

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Friday, Jun 20, 2003

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Bengal Plan finalised at Rs. 3,894 cr.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 19. The 2003-04 Annual Plan for West Bengal has been finalised at Rs. 3,894 crores including an additional Central assistance of Rs. 50 crores for priority schemes.

The plan size was finalised at a meeting here today between the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, K. C. Pant, and the West Bengal Finance Minister, Asim Dasgupta. During the discussions, Mr. Pant expressed concern over the declining size of the plan and pointed out that while accepting a realistic resource position in deciding the plan size was understandable, it would lead to key sectors being under-provided. The State would have to step up the Plan expenditure to the levels required for meeting the Tenth Plan objectives.

Mr. Pant pointed out that for 2002-03, the approved Plan was for Rs. 6,307 crores but expenditure dipped to Rs. 3,682 crores. The first two years of the Tenth Plan had accounted for about 25 per cent of the total Tenth Plan outlay for the State.

Generating employment for the rural population was a challenge before the West Bengal Government. At the end of September 2002, there were about 64 lakh persons on the registers of employment exchanges in the State. The State Government should encourage fresh investment by creating a hospitable climate for investors.

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Bengal Plan finalised at Rs. 3,894 cr.