West Bengal State Annual Plan, 2006-07
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Annual Plan of West Bengal for the year 2006-07 was approved at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Buddha Bhattacharya. The Annual Plan size was agreed at Rs 8024.36 crore. This includes additional Central Assistance of Rs 100 crore for schemes of priority for the State.
Annual Plan of West Bengal for the year 2006-07 was approved at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Buddha Bhattacharya. The Annual Plan size was agreed at Rs 8024.36 crore. This includes additional Central Assistance of Rs 100 crore for schemes of priority for the State.
The Deputy Chairman appreciated State’s performance in agriculture, power and health sectors. He said despite erratic monsoon food-grain production has shown upward trend. He said the State should give more thrust to production and export of horticulture products. Efforts to restore financial health of the electricity Board were also appreciated. The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission assured the state government of central support in developing infrastructure in the state. He said for the development of Special Economic Zones and broad basing economic activities, the state needs to urgently improve and strengthen infrastructure.
He said the state has improved on the implementation of plan programmes and industrial development was moving in the right direction. Even Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) were finding West Bengal as an ideal investment destination. Planning Commission assured the state government of full support in setting up a deep-sea port for which feasibility study is already being carried out. While appreciating the achievement in the power sector, Planning Commission was of the view that the state needs to go for 100 per cent metering and electrification of households. It was pointed out that focused attention to these areas would lead to long-term growth of the sector.
He said the Planning Commission would set up an Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. V.L.Chopra to evolve strategy for the development of Sunderbans. The expert group would go into the development coastal management, forest and wild life, improving livelihood opportunities for the residents of the area and also explore possibility of encouraging eco-tourism.
He said village and small-scale industries having cluster approach should be promoted because of employment potential. To ensure balanced regional development, the State Government should prepare village and district plans and also special component plans as per the guidelines of the Central Government.
The Chief Minister briefed the Commission on development plan of the State and pointed out that social services would be given emphasis in the next Annual Plan. Priority would also be given to energy and power, transport, rural development, special area development programme, and irrigation and flood control. He said over ninety per cent of outlay would be earmarked for these six sectors. He said efforts were on to revive sick PSUs through joint venture route and second phase of restructuring of PSUs would be launched shortly. The state government drew attention of the Commission to the need for focused attention on secondary education, as the national effort towards universalisation of elementary education would create additional pressure on secondary and higher education.
