Planning Commission approves Rs 12500 crore plan outlay for Assam for FY14

NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission today approved an annual plan outlay of Rs 12,500 crore for Assam for the financial year 2013-14, which is 19 per cent more than last fiscal's Rs 10,500 crore.

The plan size was finalised here in a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi.

"We had a very good discussion and very thorough review of state of Assam developmental performance. We have agreed on an annual plan of Rs 12,500 crore for the year 2013-14, it is a very big step up from the previous year.

"We will do whatever we can to make sure that the plan gets amply implemented especially what the central government has to do both in clearances and also of course release of funds," Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.

He said the economic performance of the state during last 4-5 years has been good. Performance in the social sectors, including health and education, was appreciable. He also appreciated the state government for pushing ambitious targets in the agriculture sector during 12th plan (2012-17).

Ahluwalia said the improvement taking place in the state will be reflected in the outcomes in the next few years and the state has set a very ambitious target to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate.

Expressing satisfaction about the Plan size, Gogoi said the discussion was free and frank and there is a lot of scope for the state to speed up the developmental process.

"...there is a lot of scope to speed our developmental process in agriculture, health, power. Many more sectors we have to improve and we will speed up also. The Planning Commission has been all along very helpful. In spite of all financial constraint...Planning Commission has agreed Rs 12,500 crore," Gogoi said.

He said the projected growth rate of Assam in 2012-13 is 6.88 per cent which is better than the national average, adding, prudent financial management has created required fiscal space to propel the growth to even higher levels.