Pondy plan outlay fixed at Rs. 355 cr.

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 20. The plan outlay for the Union Territory of Pondicherry for 2001-02 was fixed at Rs. 355 crores, during the discussions between the Chief Minister, Mr.P.Shanmugham, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr.K.C. Pant, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Chief Secretary, Mr.T.T. Joseph, the Principal Secretary (Power and Port), Mr. Navin B. Chawla, the Director of Planning and Research Department, Mr. M. Sridharan and the Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. G. Panneerselvam, were also present.

Official sources said the approved outlay under the budget estimates was Rs.312 crores. This was raised to Rs. 321.32 crores in the revised estimates. Considering the Administration's good performance in execution of various plan schemes and mobilisation of additional resources, the Planning Commission fixed the outlay at Rs. 355 crores. This marked an increase of Rs.43 crores in the budget estimates and Rs. 33.68 crores in the revised estimates of the preceding year.

Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports

In his opening remarks, Mr. Pant complimented the Union Territory for its performance in the social sector and for introducing the bio-village development programme in 19 villages. He suggested that the Government accord priority to the improvement of the Pondicherry port to enbale private companies to it for cargo movement, an official release said.Appreciating Pondicherry's effort to control non-plan expenditure and improve revenue generation, he said the Union Territory should initiate programmes for creating employment opportunities and suggested that the administration expedite networking of training institutes with the industry and change over to market driven rates to improve employability of ITI and Polytechnic pass outs.

Mr.Shanmugam was also asked to hold gram panchayat elections and utilise Central funds for computerisation of land records. Rationalisation of power tariff rate and setting up of an electricity regulatory commission were also recommended.

The Chief Minister briefed the Commission on the steps taken to improve revenue collection. As against the Rs. 145.50- crore target set by the Planning Commission for the last fiscal year, the mobilisation was Rs.162.24 crores. He also said steps had been taken to facilitate private sector participation in modernisation of port and tourism development.

A Rs.6.45-crore integrated infrastructure development project was launched at Siderapet, while an earth station for swifter transmission was being set up at Kalapet with the help of the Centre's software technology park.

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Section  : Southern States
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