By IANS,
New Delhi : The Planning Commission Tuesday approved an annual plan outlay of Rs.26,052.53 crore or over Rs.260 billion to implement development projects in Karnataka during 2008-09.
The outlay was approved during a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa at a meeting here. Senior officials of the plan panel and the state government also participated in the meeting.
Lauding the performance of Karnataka’s economy, which logged over 7 percent growth in the last fiscal, Ahluwalia said the state had potential to clock a higher growth rate in the current fiscal.
“Karnataka with available resources can grow at a faster pace, and contribute significantly to the country’s economic empowerment,” Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.
In reply to a question, he said the state government should give more emphasis on the development of Bangalore, India’s IT hub.
“Bangalore is a dynamic city, and attracts global players from different fields, particularly information technology. The state government will certainly give due attention to the city’s infrastructure capacity building,” said Ahluwalia.
He also praised the state’s “pioneering efforts” in watershed development programmes through the public-private partnership.
According to an official note of the Planning Commission, Karnataka is witnessing a structural transmission in commissioning domestic products with the share of the primary sector declining sharply.
“During 1993-94 to 2003-04, the manufacturing and service sectors grew at 7.50 and 10.61 percent, respectively, while growth in the primary sector regressed to 0.6 percent per annum,” said the statement.
Yediyurappa said his government would try to achieve a 9 percent growth in the current fiscal, with special focus on agriculture and allied activities.
The chief minister added his government would put the state at the forefront of developed states and a blueprint for all-round development was being worked out.
“We are setting up a skill development commission to train the youth,” he told reporters, adding that his government would create one million job opportunities in next five years.