The State's annual plan size for the fiscal 2013-14 has been pegged at Rs 21,500 crore, around 24.45 per cent higher than Rs 17, 250 crore fixed for 2012-13 with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia lauding efficient financial management and achievement of inclusive growth by the State Government.
The annual plan was finalized at the meeting held between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman and a high level team led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in New Delhi on Tuesday. The State had submitted a draft annual plan for this fiscal amounting to Rs 21,467 crore before the plan panel, which fixed the size making it a round figure of Rs 21,500.
"The State plan for this fiscal will concentrate on agriculture, road, irrigation, energy and social welfare, especially welfare of SCs and STs," said an official of planning and coordination department. Annual plan allocations of the State have been substantially enhanced from Rs 5,520 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 17,250 crore in 2012-13.
In the Eleventh Plan (2007-12), the State Government spent Rs 44,290.16 crore against the approved outlay of Rs 43,820 crore. However, the State's 12th Plan envisages an average annual growth rate of nine per cent with a projected outlay of Rs 1.24 lakh crore.
After the finalisation of the plan size, Ahluwalia and other members of the Planning Commission appreciated the progress made by the State in implementing various on-going Centrally-sponsored programmes and special initiatives undertaken by the State.
The Deputy Chairman assured that various constructive suggestions made by Chief Minister Patnaik to strengthen implementation of ongoing programmes would be looked into on priority.
He lauded special efforts made by the State to improve the socio-economic conditions and in reducing the intra-State disparities.
Appreciating the fiscal consolidation achieved by the State, he observed that the State has succeeded in creating a comfortable fiscal space which now allows the State to make higher capital investments. He opined that given the existing fiscal position of the State and improvements registered in socio-economic development, he has no doubts that the State is set to achieve high rates of inclusive growth in the years to come.
The State's annual plan has focused on agriculture and allied sectors, including irrigation, energy, social services sectors and critical infrastructure, which account for about 25 per cent, 33 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively. During the detailed discussion for finalization of the plan, Patnaik urged the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to accord special category status to Odisha since its position is much below the level of several special category States.
Reiterating the State's long standing demand, he said Odisha satisfies most of the existing criteria except having an international boundary and urged Ahluwalia to redefine the criteria for according the status.
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State annual plan pegged at Rs 21,500 cr
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Patnaik also demanded extension of Special Plan for KBK by 10 years with enhanced funding to bring the most backward region at par with other regions of the State.
Stating that "Nabakalebara" ceremony of lord Jagannath at Puri is scheduled in the year 2015 after a period of 19 years and a large number of projects have been planned for infrastructure strengthening and development, the Chief Minister urged the plan panel to approve the proposal seeking a special central assistance of Rs 1,397 crore for the important religious and cultural events of eastern India.
Patnaik also reiterated enhancement in the mineral royalty on major minerals. Patnaik said that the State mining PSUs of coal bearing States like Odisha should be given the first preference to develop adequate coal reserves to meet the growing demands of coal in the State.
The Financial Restructuring Programme (FRP) should cover GRIDCO in Odisha as it carries out the function of power purchase for the entire State as the "State Designated Entity", he said.
He also demanded suitable amendments to be carried out in the existing Central Act to provide for at least 25 per cent of the power generated free of cost to a host thermal power producing States like Odisha in line with the hydro power policy.