• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Our Bureau

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, calling on the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, to finalise the State's annual Plan 2003-04 in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI, June 11

TAMIL Nadu's annual Plan for the current fiscal has been pegged at Rs 7,000 crore inclusive of Rs 70 crore by way of special assistance for priority schemes being undertaken by the State Government.

This was decided here at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr K.C. Pant, and the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa.

In his preliminary observations, Mr Pant appreciated the commendable progress in the spread of education in the State as also the State's track record in achieving net reproductive rate of one. He, however, underlined the need for taking measures to reduce infant mortality rate.

Mr Pant also referred to the initiative taken by the State in the formation of special economic zones at Tuticorin, Ennore and Chennai adjacent to the existing ports.

He underlined the need for exploring new cropping patterns suitable for different agro-climatic conditions and encouraging use of water-saving systems such as drips and sprinklers. In praising the State Government's initiative in putting in place a 15-point programme for socio-economic development and monitorable targets for the Tenth Plan, Mr Pant asked the State to consider prescribing yearly targets in important sectors so that the objective of the State for growth with social justice and equity is achieved.

He voiced concern over depleting ground-water resources in the State. He also asked the Government to bring down unemployment and called for preparation of a master plan for dealing with the requirements of urban infrastructure.

Briefing the Plan panel about the fiscal reforms initiated by her government, Ms Jayalalithaa said a medium-term fiscal programme launched by the State would certainly improve the growth rate in the State. She said Fiscal Responsibility legislation has been enacted to set out the goals and the milestones for proper fiscal management.

The Chief Minister also referred to the comprehensive wasteland development programme to bring back nearly two million hectares wasteland under cultivation and to establish rural agro-processing industries in each of the 385 blocks in the State. She sought the support of the Plan panel for the proposed linking of Mahanadi with Gundar river in Tamil Nadu to overcome the acute water scarcity and drought situation.

She bemoaned that a water-starved State like Tamil Nadu receives no assistance under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIPB) due to certain guidelines. There was a huge programme of tank modernisation, which is pending due to shortage of funds. While welcoming a token allocation of Rs 20 crore under AIPB this fiscal, the Chief Minister pleaded for progressive step-up outlays under this head in the coming years.

Ms Jayalalithaa said a 10-year comprehensive infrastructure development plan for Chennai city with an outlay of Rs 18,000 crore has been launched. A new six-lane express way leading to major IT areas has also been planned. She expressed the hope that these initiatives would help achieve the target of 8 per cent growth rate in Tamil Nadu.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Monsoon delay cripples power and farm sectors in Kerala

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line