Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 29: The Planning Commission of India (PCI) has released Rs 1000 crore worth first installment of current financial year’s annual plan for the State. The PCI would be releasing remaining amount of the plan during subsequent months. A handsome amount from out of Rs 7300 crore was likely to be released well before onset of the winter to give pace to development works.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the PCI had released Rs 1000 crore on account of annual plan for the State as a first installment to give boost to already initiated development works and take up new works.
“The release of first installment would ease the pressure and the Government would be able to clear all bills pending in the treasuries. Majority of the bills have already been cleared”, they said.
They added that the State has also identified the works to be undertaken under Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP) this year and would be getting Rs 700 crore during the financial year.
Describing as “adequate” the release of first installment worth Rs 1000 crore of the plan, sources said the Planning Commission has assured the State Government that the remaining amount would also flow shortly.
It may be mentioned here that the Planning Commission of India had to release annual plan and PMRP amount till March next. Majority of amount is released till February to facilitate the States draw up their development plans and execute them. The pending payments are released in the month of March.
“As the District Development Boards (DDBs) have already approved the development works for all districts and their plan allocation, any delay in release of the plan wouldn’t matter as the works would go on and payment can be made as and when the plan is released”, sources said.
They pointed out that the Government had completed DDB meetings of all districts well in advance even before formal announcement of plan approval by the Planning Commission. This was done to help the districts take up work at the earliest especially at the places, which have limited working season due to snowfall.
While development works at the district level were currently being reviewed by the civil administration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would hold review meetings of all districts in November-December or December-January.
The Chief Minister didn’t attend the meetings of the DDBs excepting Jammu and Srinagar, of which, he happened to be the Chairman.
For the current financial year of 2012-13, the State had received highest ever annual plan of Rs 7300 crore and PMRP worth Rs 700 crore. Last year, J&K had got Rs 6600 crore annual plan and Rs 1200 crore under PMRP. As the works under PMRP were nearing completion, the Planning Commission had reduced the amount for current year to Rs 700 crore, down by Rs 500 crore from last year.
Sources expressed confidence that the State would be able to spend full plan of Rs 7300 crore during current financial year as well as Rs 700 crore on PMRP. A detailed strategy has already been chalked out for full utilization of the plan, they said.
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