Plan outlay pegged at 3,800 Cr.

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 3.

The Planning Commission today pegged the Annual Plan of Delhi for 2001-2002 at Rs. 3,800 crores, a 15 per cent increase over last year's Plan size of Rs. 3,300 crores. It also promised to provide extra financial assistance whenever needed for the power sector reforms and taking up infrastructure projects including roads and flyovers in the Capital.

The Plan was finalised at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr.K.C. Pant, and the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit. The Chief Secretary, Mr.P.S. Bhatnagar, and the Secretary (Finance), Mr. Ramesh Chandra, were also present. The Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, was not present as he was indisposed.

Complimenting the State Government for managing its finance in an effective and efficient manner during the Ninth Plan, Mr. Pant said the resource mobilisation of the Sheila Dikshit Government had been very good. On the demand of the Chief Minister that the Capital's government should be provided with extra funds for carrying out successful reforms in the power sector in the infrastructure projects, the Planning Commission Chairman said at present the Annual Plan size had been approved for Rs. 3,800 crores. However, he assured that whenever more funds were required, the same would be made available in accordance with the needs.

On her part, the Chief Minister emphasised that Delhi had got its own peculiar problems and it cannot be clubbed with other States. She cited the continued migration of population from the other States which had put an extra burden on the State Government to provide various amenities which is being added at the rate of five lakh per year. This was in addition to this was the floating population which ventured into the city every day from the National Capital Region (NCR) and put additional burden on the resources of the city.

In this connection, Ms.Dikshit stressed the need for expediting timely implementation of the NCR Plan for development both by Central and State Governments. This needs willingness and commitment of all implementing agencies as well as provisions of sufficient funds for the activities to be taken up. She informed the NCR Plan could be implemented in successful manner with priority on transportation network connecting Delhi with the NCR townships. The Delhi Government, was willing to invest more than Rs. 200 crores in the current year itself on construction of three identified corridors of the regional rail network required for this purpose.

In the area of water supply, while the Chief Minister listed the progress of major projects like construction of 140 MGD Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant and stressed the need to complete the construction of the Tehri dam in time to make raw water available. She also impressed upon the need for timely allotment of land by the DDA and adequate provision of resources with regard to the low income group housing scheme. She referred to the re-structuring of the MCD to make it is more responsive and live up to the expectations of the people.

About 88 per cent of the Plan funds would be utilised for six priority sectors -- transport (23.99 per cent), energy (18.42 per cent), water supply (13.79 per cent), urban development (12.60 per cent), education (9.92 per cent) and public health and medical (8.98 per cent).

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