SHIMLA, Mar 1:
Planning Commission member Arun Maira today said they were mulling separate norms for funding of development projects in hilly States, considering their topographical constraint and other disadvantages.
At a programme of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, Maira said the Planning Commission was considering changes in the norms for funding of hill States, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
He said a “white paper” for giving special treatment to the hill states had been prepared by the commission.
The hilly States had been demanding separate norms for allocation of development funds for long, claiming tough terrain and difficult topography added to their project cost.
Lauding Himachal for its model of development and initiatives on environment and sustainable growth, the Planning Commission member said notwithstanding the progress made by Himachal the hill States “have lots of local disadvantages and thus there is a need for separate facilities”.
He said there is no doubt the hill States have natural advantages like best forests and environmentally sustainable growth initiatives, but the nation must repay to these States in some forms so that they keep preserving their natural resources and could tap their potential in areas like tourism, horticulture and hydro-power.
“Topographical constraint and other disadvantages of being a hill areas warranted formulation of separate policies for funding of development of infrastructure, education, health and other core areas,” he said.
The Planning Commission member said that Himachal Pradesh should make more efforts to tap its tourism potential, hydro power plants and horticulture, and encourage IT industry.
Laying stress on finding local solutions to problems hampering implementation of projects or business regulations causing delays in industrial growth, he said the 12th Five Year Plan provides the vital requisite for ensuring more inclusive and quicker growth.
Improving business regulatory mechanism, making stakeholders as “collaborators” and improving local governance were imperative for growth, he said.
The Planning Commission has developed measurable parameters to rate the growth of all 28 states of the country and a report would be released soon.
Acting Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh P Mitra urged the Planning Commission to convince the Centre to restore the excise duty waiver, withdrawn in 2010, for boosting industrial development in the State.
Jayant Dabar, chairman of CII Northern Region, laid emphasise on relaxing rules and regulations to clear the bottlenecks in industrial growth. (PTI)
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