With the State Government giving thrust on infrastructure development, the Annual Plan size for the year 2014-15 will experience a huge jump and official sources reveal it will be Rs35,000 crore, which is highest ever in the State.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given a green signal for such a big rise in the Annual Plan for 2014-15. For the State Government sector the plan will be for Rs33,000 crore and for State PUSs, the Plan is Rs2000 crore. This move is to expedite higher economic growth in the State as it is proposed to raise the Capital Outlay more than 60 per cent, said an official.
With clear cut indications from the Planning Commission of India, Central Assistance to an extent Rs14,000 crore for the State Plan will be available. Resource mobilisation by the State Government is on top gear and it is expected that Rs17,000 crore will be available. While Annual Plan during 2013-14 was Rs19,367 crore in the State Government sector and in 2014-15 this sector will have an additional fund of Rs13,633 crore, which will be highest ever in one year.
Under this backdrop, maximum efforts are being undertaken by Department of Finance to collect tax and non-tax revenue to meet the demands of various departments, which have been asked to put in place various infrastructure development programmes.Engineering Departments like Works, Water Resources, Rural Development and Urban Development will be having large projects with State funding, said sources in the State Government.
This time major thrust is on improving network of roads, bridges, power transmission and distribution set up, providing irrigation in more and more dry zones etc. Several flagship programs like Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana, Biju Setu Yojana, Biju KBK Yojana, Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana, Biju Saharanchal Bidyutikaran Yojana, Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana will be funded by the State Plan. With resources abundant in the State Kitty, officials are optimistic about higher spending and kick starting high growth environment in the State, said the official.