Bangalore: Plan Panel Approves Karnataka's Rs 42,030 Cr Plan Size for 2012-13
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 11: Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who earned quodos for coming out with a pro-people and farmer-friendly budget for the year 2012-13 and achieved the oft-repeated ambition of his predecessor in presenting a total budget exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore, has received encomiums from the national Planning Commission ''for maintaining fiscal discipline and for its overall fiscal management.”
The Chief Minister, who flew to New Delhi last night for holding discussions with the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Wednesday, had more reasons to smile as the Plan Panel not only appreciated the State Government for its exemplary and prudent fiscal management but also in getting its approval for the proposed annual plan size of Rs 42,030 crore for the year 2012-13.
The annual plan size of Rs 42,030 crore proposed by the State Government for the coming year is Rs 17,857 crore more than last year’s plan outlay or about 10.09 per cent more than last year.
The per capita plan outlay works out to Rs7064, which is one of the highest among major States, said an official press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office from New Delhi after the discussions with the Planning Commission.
Karnataka had sought intervention of the Planning Commission in certain critical areas like higher central assistance to tackle the drought situation, increasing import duty on silk yarn, coal linkages for power plants, speedy implementation of railway projects and amendment to Article 371 D of the Constitution for the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region, a long-standing demand of the people of Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
In his discussions with the Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman, the Chief Minister underscored his four major objectives in preparing the State’s annual budget for the coming year -- Growth, which is essential for the economic prosperity of the State; Inclusion, to ensure that all sections of the society receive the fruits of development; Good governance, to ensure faster and better delivery of the services to the citizens; and Taxation measures as tools for development.
There was also a need to consolidate the initiatives started during the previous years and to ensure adequate funding for all such schemes, Sadananda Gowda explained.
The Chief Minister said the overall allocation of Rs19,660 crore for the agriculture and allied sectors (10.09% more than 2011-12).
The sectoral allocations were: Agriculture and Horticulture got Rs 4,090 crore; Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Rs 1,206 crore; Irrigation – upto Rs 10,500 crore; Energy – Rs 10,289 crore; Rural Development and Panchayat Raj – Rs 6,896 crore; Education (Primary, Secondary and Higher) - Rs.15,071 crore; Health and Medical Education – Rs 4,260 crore; Social Welfare – Rs 3,993 crore; Urban Development – Rs 8,787 crore; Public Works – Rs 5,110 crore; Revenue – Rs 3,061 crore; Home and Transport – Rs 4,288 crore; Women and Child Development – Rs 2,883 crore; Housing – Rs 1,439 crore.