Himachal's Annual Plan for the year 2013-14 has been finalized at Rs. 4100 crore which is Rs. 400 crore more than last years Annual Plan.The Annual Plan was finalized in a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh at Yojna Bhawan New Delhi today.At this level, the Plan size for the new fiscal year is almost 11 percent higher than the Rs. 3700 crore plan outlay for 2012-13 said Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh.He said that Social Sector, Transport and Communication and Energy sector had been given 1st, 2nd and 3rd priorities by allocating 1371.40 crore (33.45%), Rs. 865.14 crore (21.10%) and Rs. 624.68 crore (15.24%) of the total plan outlay respectively. Besides the allocation for Agriculture and Allied activities and Irrigation and Flood control was Rs. 530.84 crore and Rs. 301.14 crore respectively. He said that state economy growth rate for 12th plan period had been fixed at 9%, adding that an plan outlay of Rs 1013.52 crore has been allocated to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan for implementing various schemes for upliftment of Scheduled Caste population.
He said that Rs. 369 crore (9%) of the outlay had been earmarked for Tribal Area Sub Plan and Rs 37 crore had been allocated for various development projects in declared backward areas of the State.Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that additional 5009 MW hydel energy would be generated in the State during 12th five year plan out of which a target of 1918 MW hydel energy generation has been fixed for annual plan 2013-14. He stressed the need for low cost open access and grid connectivity in entire country to evacuate surplus power for energy consumers at various parts of the country at proper price.The Project cost of Mid Himalayan Watershed Project had been revised to Rs 596.25 crore from initial cost of Rs 365 crore, said the Chief Minister adding that 704 gram panchayats in 44 blocks and 10 districts of the state would be covered with 272 micro water shed projects to reverse the process of degradation of natural resource base and improve productive potential of natural resources and income of rural households in the state. He said that an outlay of Rs 35.00 crore had been approved for the year 2013-14 for Swan River Integrated Watershed Management Project in Una District, to regenerate the forests to protect agriculture land and enhance agriculture and forestry production in catchment areas. The project cost had been revised to Rs 215 crore from original cost of Rs 160 crore along-with the extension of terminating date of project up to March 2015, he said.He said that Rs 428.22 crore, ADB assisted Infrastructure Development Investment Programme had been started in the State to improve basic tourist facilities such as information centres, waste management, camping site, parking toilets, landscaping, road improvement, beautification and development of tourist places in the project area so as to increase the flow of religious, domestic and international tourists in the State. He said that house boats would be introduced in vast reservoirs in the State.
He said that majority of visiting 150 lakh tourists prefer popular tourist destinations in the State, adding further that State Government was working towards perting the tourists to new explored areas for which various schemes like home stay etc, had been started .He requested the Union Government to start air services to all the three airports i.e. Shimla, Kangra and Kullu airports to boost the highend tourists to visit the State during this summer. He requested for declaring the Bilaspur--Leh via Manali railway line as project of National importance keeping in view its strategic importance and said that only 44 Kms. railway line had been added in the state since independence and entire burden of goods and passenger traffic was borne by the road transport. He also requested for survey of Baddi--Chandigarh rail line keeping in view its economic consideration which would link industrial units operating in Baddi Barotiwala areas. He pleaded for relaxation of ratio of 60:40 to 50:50 between labour and capital components for execution of works under MNREGA and also requested for enhancement of wages from existing Rs 138 to Rs 150 per day.
He requested for restoration of Industrial Package to the state to boost industrialization. He thanked the Union Government for providing additional central assistance of Rs. 62 crore on accounts of arrears on Shah Nahar Project and urged for immediate release of the central assistance. He demanded revision in cost norms and time period for completion of schemes under AIBP programme for hilly States keeping in view the tough geographical conditions. He requested implementation of recommendation made by working group on minor irrigation for revision of cost norm or Rs 3.5 lakh per hectare for surface minor irrigation schemes. He also requested for uniform funding pattern of 90:10 for all special category States under centrally sponsored schemes and said that State should be treated at par with other North Eastern States keeping in view the similar geographical, topographical and hilly terrain.