PCI Approves Annual Plan 2013-14 At Rs 16125 Crore
Badal Unveils Agricultural Diversification Plan
5 Dariya News
New Delhi 30-Apr-2013
The outlay for the Annual Plan of Punjab for 2013-14 was pegged at Rs. 16125 crore against Rs 14000 during the last fiscal showing an increase of 15% over the previous year in a meeting between the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission of India Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal here at Yojana Bhawan.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the approved plan outlay included one time Additional Central Assistance of Rs 120 crore, comprising Rs 400 crore as 30 % GoI grant and Rs 280 crore as 70% state share for the implementation of priority projects especially in the power, roads, health, education and rural water supply and sanitation. It may be recalled the state government has posed a plan size of Rs 16123 crore in Planning Commission of India (PCI) for approval which was subsequently hiked to Rs 16125 crore on the pursuance of the Chief Minister.
Taking part in the deliberations, the Chief Minister said that the main thrust of the current annual plan was to strengthen the social sector, infra structure besides the welfare of SC/BC, Women and girl child remained the highly prioritized areas. He said the 15% hike in the annual plan outlay for 2013-14 over the last year’s plan was reflective of state government’s commitment to achieve its target realistically.
Mr Badal observed that the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula was unfavourable for the state and urged the Planning Commission of India (PCI) to sanction a special package of Rs. 10,000 crore to bail out the state from fiscal stress. He also requested that under the Gadgil Mukherjee formula 20% weightage should be given to the States’ proportion of SC population and 40% for General population adding that states’ contribution to the national pool of food grains should be recognized by earmarking at least 15% weightage to it in Gadgil formula. Mr Badal opined that at least 70% of central plan assistance to state should be on the basis of Gadgil formula.
Pleading for decentralization of planning process at the level of the states, the Chief Minister said that the states should be given free hand so that the specific issues related to them could be effectively addressed in accordance with the felt needs of the people. Citing the BK Chaturvedi Committee’s report, Mr Badal said it has made some good suggestions regarding re-structuring of centrally sponsored schemes in terms of elimination of small schemes and clubbing the remaining schemes into the flagship schemes. The states were proposed to be given some flexibility in regard to provision for flexi funds, revision of norms and revision of financial norms every two years. However these cosmetic changes would not address the real issue.The Chief Minister said that state government was of the view that the centrally sponsored schemes do not serve the desired purpose and their scope should be reduced and the states should be given their earmarked allocation as un-tied grants under normal central assistance adding that states were in a better position to leverage their strengths and utilize the funds according to their development needs.
The Chief Minister called for a drastic recasting of the planning process in the country and said that the unitary form of governance besides the centralized and top down approach to planning had brought the country to the brink of an explosive situation in which one third of the country was afflicted by conditions of insurgency, Naxalism and other forms of violence. Pleading for decentralization of planning process at the level of the states, Mr. Badal said that the states should be given free hand so that the specific issues related to them could be effectively addressed in accordance with the felt needs of the people. He bemoaned even after 65 years of independence and planning our country was still one of the poorest in the world inflicted with the maladies of unemployment, poverty, starvation, illiteracy and malnutrition.
The Chief Minister pointed out that only a truly federal system of governance and a decentralized approach to the planning process could help us to address the issues in an effective and result-oriented manner. Too much concentration of power at the Center which was neither had a feel of ground realities nor was directly accountable to the people has led to the present mess. Different areas and states have different needs but we try to impose uniform policies and decisions on the entire country. Mr. Badal said that it was the need of the hour to review our entire system and planning process to ensure overall development of the states and welfare of its people. He urged the members of the PCI to feel the pulse of the people and must appreciate the hardships confronted by them by visiting the villages. Without mincing any words Mr Badal said pro –people policies framed in Air conditioned offices would not have the desired impact as compared to such policies formulated in direct consultations with the targeted masses at the grass-root levels. He blamed the bureaucracy for a communication gap between the people and administration be it at the level of state or centre.
Highlighting the major contribution of Punjab in the freedom struggle of the country besides making our nation self-reliant in food production, Mr Badal said for which the state was aptly known as the ‘sword arm’ and the ‘granary of the country’ and therefore, deserved much justice which had been eluded so far.
Outlining the agriculture scenario in the state, the Chief Minister said that with the near stagnation in agriculture productivity and intensive farming having caused substantial depletion of groundwater and degradation of soil in the state, the thrust would now be now on comprehensive persification of agriculture to increase area under Maize, cotton, sugarcane and farm forestry, for which a new scheme for agriculture persification have been included in the annual plan 2013-14. The introduction of Bt. Cotton has helped in increasing its productivity and consequently area under cotton was increasing. Without an assured marketing of crops in terms of MSP like Maize, pulses, oilseeds, Soyabean it would not be possible to motivate the farmers for large scale persification. He said, “Punjab needs second Green Revolution with a focus on comprehensive persification of its agriculture”.
Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for constituting a Committee of Ministers under Union Agriculture Minister Mr Sharad Pawar to consider the proposals of the States under the Mission for persification of Agriculture, Mr Badal said that the Government of India (GoI) should generously sanction funds for crop persification as an allocation of Rs.500 crore for this purpose in the current Union Budget was too inadequate.
The Chief Minister stated that the state Government had enhanced support to PAU from Rs. 189 crore to Rs. 300 crore for the year 2013-14 and such liberal financial support from ICAR and the Government of India was needed to support its persification related research programmes. The state has received only 2.34% of total funds allocated under RKVY since its inception and the state government had been consistently demanding review of criteria for allocation of RKVY funds. Therefore, Mr Badal urged the Central Ground Water Board to declare dark blocks and areas having brackish ground water unfit for irrigation, to be treated as unirrigated. Further, at least 25% weightage in devolution formula should be given to agriculture productivity of the state.
Showing deep concern over the high incidence of farmer suicides due to rural indebtness the Chief Minister urged the GoI to waive off all agriculture loans as a onetime measure adding he said the state had a scheme for providing relief to such affected families. Reiterating the demand of a relief package of Rs 5112 crore in wake of drought like situation experienced by state on account of 65% shortfall in rainfall during the kharif season 2012, Mr Badal said that it should be granted immediately.
To give fillip to the allied farming sector especially the animal husbandry sector in view of agriculture reaching at saturation, the Chief Minister called for liberal funding of animal husbandry which would in turn encourage crop persification besides raising the income of the farming community. He requested the GoI to treat the farmers engaged in dairy, fishery and piggery at par with the agriculture farmers for the purpose of tax exemption and for loan assistance. He also demanded one time capital assistance for upgradation of infrastructure in State Veterinary University GADVASU.
On the water supply and sanitation front the Chief Minister asked the GoI to increase the cost of construction of household latrine to Rs 14500 and convergence with MNREGA should be dispensed with as the present norm of Rs 3200 per unit and convergence with MNREGA was practically not feasible. He also demanded that funds should be provided under Quality Component of the National Rural Drinking Water Program for effectively tackling the severe problem of Heavy Metals in drinking water including Uranium contamination in the state. Mr Badal also sought a special provision of Rs 750 crore especially for improving Village ponds under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan (NBA) as now these ponds which were once source of drinking water have turned into a site of sewage. The Chief Minister also impressed upon the PCI to frame a new scheme with sufficient provision of funds for providing sewerage facilities to large villages having population above 8000 during the current five year plan.
To strengthen the century old irrigation system and enhancing its carrying capacity, the Chief Minister demanded one time grant for Project costing Rs.4128 crore for rejuvenation and modernization of canal system in Punjab, which was pending with Central water Commission since long, besides Rs 3498 crore to fund project for management of declining water table in the state. Mr Badal also asked the centre to immediately release funds to tune of Rs 1441 for relining the Rajasthan and Sirhind feeder apart from one time grant of Rs 159 crore for Sirhind Feeder. Mr Badal apprised the PCI that lining of the twin canals namely Rajasthan Feeder canal and Sirhind feeder canal involving a cost of Rs 952 crore and Rs 489 crore respectively should be tendered out within May, 2013. This mega projects would be completed within four years. Similarly Dr. Mihir Shah Committee report for water logged areas involving outlay of Rs.961 crore should be expedited.
Dwelling on the power sector, the Chief Minister said that Punjab was in the process of adding 3920 MW of Thermal power by May, 2014 and all the three thermal projects in the private sector were in advanced stages of construction which would make Punjab self sufficient in power. He sought GoI’s intervention by asking Ministry of Coal to provide adequate coal linkage for optimum utilization of 1980 MW plant near Talwandi Sabo and 1400 MW plant near Rajpura. Similarly, the 540 MW plant near Goindwal Sahib which was ready for commercial operation was stuck up because the developer has not been able to commence mining operations in Jharkhand. Ministry of Coal should be asked to provide temporary coal linkage to the plant for one year. Mr Badal also asked the GoI to enhance subsidy from 30% to 70% on the solar irrigation pump sets to benefit the farmers as the state was already committed to promote Renewable and Clean energy in a big way.
On the higher education front the Chief Minister asked the GoI ensure early passage of the World Class University Bill by the Parliament so the proposed World Class University may be set up near Amritsar.
On the social security and welfare of SC/BC welfare front, the Chief Minister apprised the PCI that as per their guidelines the SCSP component has been depicted separately for inpidual schemes. He bemoaned that though Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India had launched ‘Pardhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana’ in 2009-10 for development works in villages having more than 50% Scheduled Caste population but no village of Punjab, which has the highest proportion of SC population in country, has been included under this scheme despite of the fact that 2068 villages have more than 0% SC population..
The Chief Minister apprised the PCI that the state government has recently enacted the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund Act to provide Rs 300-500 crore through this Fund. He urged the GoI to liberally support this initiative of the state government.
During the deliberations the Chief Minister also impressed upon the PCI to increase allocation for Modernisation of Police to at least Rs. 1,000 crore and to enhance the central component to 90%. Mr Badal also urged the Union government to enhance the allocation for development of the border areas especially for providing schools, hospitals, roads and electric supply under the Border Area Development Plan (BADP) adding that the 11 towns along with the international border should be included in the ambit of funding under BADP.
To put state on the fast track of industrialization, the Chief Minister urged the GoI to extend the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Eastern Freight Corridor which were presently upto Ludhiana till Amritsar. Referring to the prospects of Indo-Pak trade, Mr Badal also said that Indo-Pak trade has been liberalized by replacing the positive list with a negative list of 1209 items. Punjab has, however not benefited much from the new policy as the trade through the land route at Attari was permitted only for 137 items. He impressed upon the GoI that all items tradable with Pakistan be allowed to be traded through the land route at Attari. To further promote bilateral trade ties between both the countries, he emphasized opening of trade through two more land trade routes at Ferozepur and Fazilka to promote trade with Pakistan and Central Asia.
The Chief Minister also sought liberal assistance for Agro processing units in Punjab as the state was primarily an agricultural and landlocked state. There was a need to develop facilities for storage, cold chain, processing and marketing of agriculture produce, he added.
Highlighting the concept of employment generation, the Chief Minister unveiled a proposal to train 35,000 Punjab youth so that they could earn a livelihood of at least 8,000/- per month. Mr Badal demanded Rs 84 crore to undertake the skill development mission project to enable the unemployed youth for getting gainfully employed. He also revealed that the state government has planned to raise four Integrated Skill Development Centres in Punjab to train 5000 trainees per Centre for which the Union government must provide a sum of Rs. 40 crores as Rs.10 crore per centre was required for this purpose.
The Chief Minister also envisaged a liberal financial grant from PCI for the upcoming ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial at Kartarpur besides War Memorial to be constructed at Amritsar to showcase the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle and supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabi Defence personnel to safeguard the borders of country.
Winding up the discussions the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia highly appreciated the plan performance of the state in infra structure and social services sectors like health, education and empowerment of women. He assured Mr Badal that he would make all out efforts for sanctioning special funds for the memorials especially on Jang-e-Azaadi as it was a great endeavor to propogate the rich legacy of valor and patriotism amongst our coming generations. Dr Ahluwalia said that efforts were afoot to take forward the scheme of eliminating water logging in the south western districts of Punjab on the basis of Dr Mihir Shah report. He also apprised Mr. Badal that he ahd already taken up the issue of temporary Coal linkage with the Ministry of Coal for one year so that the Goindwal Thermal Plant could be make functional. He also assured the Chief Minister that he would soon sort out the matter of declaring MSP for Maize, soyabean and pulses to help the state for implementing its much awaited crop persification.
During the meeting the various members of the PCI also putforth their views to further achieve the growth parameters of state planning process in a far efficient and result oriented manner. The meeting was attended by Local Government and Medical Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, health & Family Welfare Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Finance and Planning Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Vice Chairman Punjab State Planning Board Mr. Rajinder Gupta, Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh besides senior officers of the state government.