Himachal Pradesh has proposed Rs. 3700 crore Annual Plan for the year 2012-13 which is 12.12 percent more than the Annual Plan of Rs. 3300 crore fixed for the year 2011-12. This was revealed by Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister while initiating the Plan discussions with the MLAs for fixing the priorities here today.
Chief Minister said that growth rate of 9.5 percent was being fixed for the 12th Five Year Plan period in comparison to the growth rate of nine percent fixed at the National level and added that though this would be a challenging task but not difficult which would be achieved fully with the valuable suggestions of MLAs and effective implementation of developmental schemes by the officers and officials of the State Government.
Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the year 2012-13 would be first year of the 12th Plan and urged the MLAs to give their valuable suggestions which would be trendsetter for remaining years of the 12th Plan and go a long way in accelerating the pace of development in the State and making it a model for other States.
Chief Minister also urged MLAs to come out with constructive suggestions for additional resource mobilization and economy measures which could be adopted so as to save money for speeding up development and undertaking welfare schemes. Prof. Dhumal urged MLAs to prioritize such projects first which were nearing completion so that the people could avail the benefits of such projects and schemes.
Reiterating his Government’s resolve for speedy development of backward areas, he said that besides Backward Area Sub Plan funds, were also being made available under General Plan, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Sub Plan for development of backward areas.
Expressing his concern over the unemployment situation at National as well a International level, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the State Government was taking effective steps to solve this problem. Efforts were being made to make Himachal Pradesh an Educational Hub of the country so that youth of the State get higher, professional and technical education nearer to their homes and get employment within and outside the State. He said that more than 25000 persons had been provided employment in Government sector alone during last four years. Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) were being opened in each assembly segment of the State so that youth get employment in private sector in the State. Self Employment had been ensured under ‘Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojna’ , ‘Crop Diversification Scheme’, ‘Doodh Ganga Yojna’, ‘Apple Rejuvenation Scheme’ and ‘Tourism Development Schemes’ . These schemes when implemented fully would create self employment to thousands of persons in the State.
Chief Minister said that to ensure effective implementation of the priorities given by the MLAs, Mid Term Appraisal of the plan priorities had been done in September last and suggestions given due attention.
Dhumal directed the officers to give utmost attention for the priorities of the MLAs. He said that illegal mining in various parts of the State was a matter of concern and added further that stringent action should be taken against the defaulters, howsoever, influential they might be. Himachal Tops in Twenty Point Programme implementation
Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has topped in the implementation of Twenty Point Programme in last two years and was at the top position till December last, this year also which showed State Government’s commitment for the speedy upliftment of the poor and weaker sections of the society besides accelerating the pace of development. He was speaking in the afternoon session of discussions on Annual Plan priorities with the MLAs of Mandi, Bilaspur and Chamba districts.
Referring to the plan priorities of the MLAs, Prem Kumar Dhumal said that every possible step were taken to prepare the Detail Project Reports (DPRs) at the earliest and added that 250 forest clearances had been obtained from Government of India, 148 sent by the present Government and 102 sent earlier. This had been possible due to concerted efforts of the State Government, he added.
Chief Minister said that State had been appreciated at various forums for best project implementation and added that recently Government of India and Asian Development Bank had conferred Award on the State for doing good works by the Himachal Pradesh Power Development Corporation. He said that with this the tally of Awards conferred on the State during last four years had gone upto 55.
Referring to the implementation of schemes under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), he said that when present Government had taken over there were 29 assembly segments in the State where less than 20 crores were being spent and added that with the constant persuasion of the State Government out of them 13 assembly segments had surpassed this and now Rs. 30 to 50 crores were being spent these segments under NABARD. Referring to the complaints of some MLAs that in some places, contractors do not complete work in time, Chief Minister said that such contractors should be blacklisted.
Chief Minister appreciated the efforts put in by PWD, IPH and HPSEB in restoring essential services to the people in different parts of the State disrupted due to heavy snowfall and heavy rains. He said that with a view to provide people in rural areas better transportation; transporters were availing exemption in tax. He said that the State was developing Fossil Park at Kasauli with a view to give boost to heritage tourism.
With the MLA from Shimla, Chamba, Sirmour, Solan, Bilaspur and Mandi District, Gulab Singh Thakur, Public Works Minister, Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister, Dr. Rajeev Bindal, Health Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Mahender Singh, Transport Minister, Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Deputy Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Chief Parliamentary Secretary also participated in the discussions and gave their valuable suggestions.
Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary said that plan priorities were being reviewed frequently in High Powered Committee Meetings. She said that Detailed Project Reports were also being prepared on priority. She directed the officers to ensure effective implementation of the priorities given by the MLAs. Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary, Planning and Finance welcomed the Chief Minister and MLAs gave detail about implementation of plan priorities. Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Heads of Departments and other senior officers of the State Government also attended the meeting.
