Bengal Plan finalised

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 12. The 2001-2002 Annual Plan for West Bengal was finalised here today at Rs. 7,186.13 crores, based on identifiable resources. The decision came at a meeting of the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr. K.C. Pant, and the West Bengal Finance Minister, Dr. Asim Dasgupta.

Reviewing the State's performance, Mr. Pant said in terms of health and demographic indices, West Bengal compared favourably with the national figures. Literacy rates in the past decade had shown impressive improvements and the programme aimed at increasing the net irrigated area from 62 to 75 per cent in the next five years would promote employment on a sustained basis, he said.

The Commission noted that the State Government had taken initiatives to decentralise planning for the construction of roads through elected panchayats which would speed up the programme in the remaining villages. The State also had a comfortable power situation. However, Mr. Pant drew attention to the weak fiscal position which had led to a downward revision of the Plan size during the past four years.

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