Planning Commission finalizes 8,000 crores plan for J-K development

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The Planning Commission has finalised the annual plan outlay for development of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2012-13 to the tune of around Rs. 8,000 crores.

The Planning Commission approved the provisional annual plan of rupees 7,300 crores, an increase of ten percent in the fiscal outlay vis-a-vis previous year's plan.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here on Friday said that he had very good discussions with the latter and reviewed the proposals for the current annual Plan of 2012-2013 along with him.

" We reviewed the proposals for the current annual Plan of 2012-2013, and also looked at the state's perspectives for the Twelfth Plan period. We have approved a Plan size of rupees 7,300 crores for the current year plus another rupees 700 crores for the Prime Minister's reconstruction package, which makes it a total size of about rupees 8000 crores, which is fully funded," said Ahluwalia.

" We have noted quite a lot of progress in many areas, specially in areas of infrastructure development. My colleagues have complimented the Chief Minister for the development momentum that is being built up in the state of J and K," he added.

Omar Abdullah on his part stated that the thrust in the plan would be integrated to reinforce and develop infrastructure in various spheres.

"It would be impossible to single out a single area of importance for us. Obviously infrastructure continues to occupy an important area for us, whether it is connectivity, road and otherwise improvement in electricity and water supply, improvement in the education both in terms of physical infrastructure as well as quality education," said Abdullah.

"Agriculture remains an area that we believe requires concerted focus, bringing in unirrigated areas into the irrigation network, also irrigating horticulture areas. Traditionally our orchards have been rain-fed. We now want to increase productivity and quality of our horticulture produce by irrigating our horticulture areas. Social sector, be it education or other social welfare schemes will also receive due importance," he added. (ANI)