Meghalaya’s annual Plan fixed at Rs 15,000-mn

New Delhi: The annual Plan of Meghalaya for 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs 1,500 crore, inclusive of additional Central assistance of Rs 150 crore for projects of specific interest to the State.

This was finalised at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Donkupar Roy.

In his initial remarks, Mr Ahluwalia said the composition of Net State Domestic Product indicate healthy trend of economic development. Slowdown in the growth rate in the Tenth Plan needs to be arrested and reversed, for which the State needs to accelerate development of infrastructure especially power and road connectivity.

All possible efforts should be made to encourage private sector participation in the development projects of physical and social infrastructure. He said Meghalaya needs higher level of growth targets to catch up with the rest of the country.

He said the Commission is keen to improve the implementation of Central initiatives aimed at making process of development more inclusive and was willing to consider requests from the State Governments for relaxing guidelines. The Central Government is also aware of the problems being faced by the Governments in the North Eastern Region in accelerating pace of infrastructure development and would not hesitate in providing financial support for improving infrastructure.

The State Government was asked to give more focused attention to the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana, drinking water and sanitation programme.

Briefing the Commission on the performance and future strategy, the Chief Minister Dr Roy said infrastructure constraints particularly power shortage were the main reason for slowdown during the Tenth Plan period. To achieve the growth target of 7.3 per cent for the Eleventh Plan, the State needs to accelerate development of infrastructure especially power and road connectivity.

Major investment would be made in the social sector during this period where nearly 38 per cent of the outlay would be earmarked. He said the State Government would work towards rapid industrialisation for improving employment. Focused attention would also be given to water management, skill up-gradation, tourism and trade with Bangladesh, he added.