By IANS
New Delhi : The central government Friday approved Rs.80.15 billion ($2 billion) as the plan outlay for Jharkhand for 2008-09.
The allocation includes Rs.500 million ($12.6 million) for projects of special interest to the state. “There is a substantial increase from the allocation of Rs.66.76 billion ($1.7 billion) last year. It would help us improve the road and other infrastructure,” Koda told reporters.
The plan outlay was finalised at a meeting between Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Senior officials from Jharkhand and the plan panel also attended the meeting.
Koda sought the plan panel’s intervention for extra aid from the central government for the upgradation of highways, expedite environment clearance of irrigation projects and free power to the host states where pithead thermal power projects are planned.
He admitted the poor condition of roads and promised to upgrade them in a year’s time.
Koda said the government would give extra emphasis on the schemes aimed at eradicating poverty in the state by generating more and more job opportunities. Over 38 percent of the outlay would be earmarked for social service schemes including 13.24 percent for education.
Ahluwalia on his part asked Koda to streamline the power distribution in the state. He also underlined the need to computerise the power distribution network.
“Since the state’s economy was characterized by higher incidence of poverty, unemployment and low per capita income, higher attention and allocation to social sector development was needed,” Ahluwalia said.