Planning Commission approves Haryana's Rs 27,072 cr outlay for 2013-14

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission today approved Haryana's Plan expenditure of Rs 27,072 crore for the current fiscal, which is just 2.2 per cent higher than the outlay for 2012-13.

The state's annual plan outlay of Rs 27,072 crore for 2013-14 was finalised here at a meeting between Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a statement said here.

During the meeting, Ahluwalia said the state needs to give attention to make growth more inclusive.

He suggested that the state has to focus more on horticulture, building storage capacities including cold storages and also adoption of modern agricultural practises to enhance productivity. The agriculture policy should focus on efficient use of water, he added.

State was advised to increase its water storage capacities either through new water storage structures or rehabilitation and repair of the existing water storages, the statement said.

It was pointed out that the state needs to take up water saving agricultural practise like System of Rice Intensification (SRI), encourage the use of micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler) for efficient water use, it added.

Steps aimed at developing the urban and industrial centres with zero effluent discharge based on recycling and reuse of water was appreciated in the meeting.

Attention was drawn to health indicators particularly to low sex ratio. It was pointed out that the state has the lowest sex ratio at 877, woefully short of the national average of 940, according to the statement.

Although the State has improved by 11 points in the Child Sex Ratio (0-6years) between 2001 and 2011, it is the lowest in the country at 830 points.

Attention was also drawn to the cases of violence against women and girl children and domination of Khap Panchayats, which is deeply disturbing according to the Commission.

The Chief Minister said the focus of 12th Plan would be broad-based and to achieve the objective of faster, inclusive and sustainable growth, the social service sector has been given the highest priority.

Hooda asked for extension of JNNURM (Urban development scheme) to Gurgaon, Grater Noida, Panchkula and Kurukshetra, the statement said.

He also sought Rs 700 crore support for setting up of solid waste management plants and asked to impose penalties for defaulting in supply commitments of power and water particularly in Gurgaon, it added.

State has constituted the Haryana Infrastructure Development Board chaired by the Chief Minister to encourage private sector investment in the infrastructure, Hooda said.