Maharashtra Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan got a pleasant surprise when the planning commission approved Rs 45,000 crore for 2012-13. After a marathon meeting between Chavan and his battery of bureaucrats led by chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad and planning commission officials led by deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the commission agreed to enhance the annual plan size by Rs 3,000 crore from previous year’s Rs 42,000 crore. “The state has been taking effective measures to accelerate growth and make it more inclusive. Performance of the state continues to be appreciable. The percentage population living below poverty line in the state has come down appreciably from 38.2% in 2004 to 24.5% in 2010,” Ahluwalia said.
The planning commission also appreciated state’s performance in managing malnutrition, skill development and implementation of JNNURM projects. It was pointed out that in the past five years, malnutrition in the state has come down from 56.1% to 15.5%. Attention was also drawn to problems in education sector, especially number of children out of school and literacy gap in some areas.
Chavan brought to the notice of the commission that the gross state domestic product of the state increased from Rs 4.14 lakh crore in 2004 to Rs 7.75 lakh crore in 2011. Also, there was a steady increase in the per capita net state domestic product, compared to the all India average. The chief minister also told the commission that in the past five years, the state has attracted investments worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore in 324 mega projects, providing employment to 3 lakh persons. He also said that projects worth Rs 1.12 lakh crore have been finalized in the current fiscal year and 75% of the mega projects are in backward areas that helps reduce the regional imbalance in development.
On infrastructure sector, Chavan said railway is a subject reserved in the Union list, so expecting the states to make large contribution is unrealistic, particularly in view of limitations of finances. The state government has sought intervention for limiting state’s contribution to 25% of construction cost of railway line. The state has decided to improve and strengthen infrastructure for air transport of passenger and cargo for boosting growth of backward areas. “The total requirement for civil aviation projects in the 12th plan is Rs 15,395 crore. We have urged the Centre to provide at least 50% share as special grants,” Chavan said.
The CM urged the Planning Commission and the Centre to create a separate line of funding for addressing the challenges of mega cities and introduction of the concept of national projects for these cities, which would entitle them to receive 90% funding from the Centre.
The planning commission also appreciated state’s performance in managing malnutrition, skill development and implementation of JNNURM projects. It was pointed out that in the past five years, malnutrition in the state has come down from 56.1% to 15.5%. Attention was also drawn to problems in education sector, especially number of children out of school and literacy gap in some areas.
Chavan brought to the notice of the commission that the gross state domestic product of the state increased from Rs 4.14 lakh crore in 2004 to Rs 7.75 lakh crore in 2011. Also, there was a steady increase in the per capita net state domestic product, compared to the all India average. The chief minister also told the commission that in the past five years, the state has attracted investments worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore in 324 mega projects, providing employment to 3 lakh persons. He also said that projects worth Rs 1.12 lakh crore have been finalized in the current fiscal year and 75% of the mega projects are in backward areas that helps reduce the regional imbalance in development.
On infrastructure sector, Chavan said railway is a subject reserved in the Union list, so expecting the states to make large contribution is unrealistic, particularly in view of limitations of finances. The state government has sought intervention for limiting state’s contribution to 25% of construction cost of railway line. The state has decided to improve and strengthen infrastructure for air transport of passenger and cargo for boosting growth of backward areas. “The total requirement for civil aviation projects in the 12th plan is Rs 15,395 crore. We have urged the Centre to provide at least 50% share as special grants,” Chavan said.
The CM urged the Planning Commission and the Centre to create a separate line of funding for addressing the challenges of mega cities and introduction of the concept of national projects for these cities, which would entitle them to receive 90% funding from the Centre.
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