Maharashtra plan size fixed @ 42,000 Crores

The annual plan outlay for Maharashtra for 2011-12 was fixed at Rs 42,000 crore at a meeting between the Planning Commission and a state delegation led by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in Delhi . The plan size, approved by the Planning Commission, is Rs 500 crore more than the original plan layout prepared for the current fiscal. It is also Rs 4,084 crore higher than the plan size in 2010-11. The commission agreed to sanction an additional Rs 200 crore for supplementary nutrition and Rs 300 crore towards upgrading basic civic amenities. The development is being seen as another feather in the cap of the Chavan-led government. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance and planning portfolio, and other senior state ministers were also part of the delegation. Central assistance was sought to overcome financial and technical hurdles in various sectors including irrigation, power, transport, road development and infrastructure among others. Even as he pitched for more central grants, Chavan insisted that fiscal discipline would be his government’s priority. The state also sought central assistance towards viability gap funding for various Metro and monorail projects. Chavan said that upgrading the transport facilities in Mumbai and bringing them to world-class standards is on his agenda. The state government also demanded a significant increase in the export quota for sugar to 20 lakh tonnes this year, arguing the state does not have enough storage facility for the bumper production. Presently, the government only allows export of five lakh tonnes. Analysts say that the state government’s move is aimed at pacifying the strong sugar lobby in Maharashtra. Chavan expressed confidence that the state will continue to lead the country in foreign investments. “An investment of Rs 2,50,000 crore with an employment of around 5 lakh persons is expected in the next four years,” he said.