Annual Plan for Puducherry fixed at Rs 2500 crore

Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Vaithilingam meeting the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finalize Annual Plan 2010-11 of the State, in New Delhi on March 10, 2010.

The Annual Plan for the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry for 2010-11 was fixed at Rs 2500 crore at a meeting here today between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister V Vaithilingam.

An official press release said the amount included Central assistance of Rs 50 crore for UT-specific projects.

During the discussions, Mr Ahluwalia appreciated the development efforts made by the UT government and said the steps taken to improve social and physical infrastructure were commendable.

He said the UT should work towards early completion of ongoing infrastructure projects. He said the private sector should be encouraged for more pro-active participation in the development of infrastructure related to tourism and water sports.

Union Minister of State for Planning V Narayanasamy said the UT government should take pro-active measures for the development of the service sector as it had enormous potential for economic growth and employment opportunities.

He said the government should encourage a shift to horticulture, floriculture, inland fisheries and cottage industries.

According to an official press release, the poverty level of Puducherry is lower than the national average, both in urban and rural areas. The rural poverty is estimated at 22.9 per cent, urban poverty at 22.2 per cent and total poverty is at 22.4 per cent. Mr. Narayansamy said that units in the unorganized sector have grown remarkably and the State was following a lean and efficient policy for both organized and unorganized sector.

The Chief Minister said that, despite limited resources, every effort had been made to make the UT a well-developed territory providing all basic amenities for the people. He said new avenues of revenue generation were being explored to make the pace of development more sustainable.

NNN