The Hindu Business Line : Arunachal annual Plan size fixed at Rs 1,100 cr

PLAN OUTLAY: The Chief Minister of Arunanchal Pradesh, Mr Gegong Apang (right), calling on the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, to finalise Annual Plan 2006-07 of the State in the Capital on Thursday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Jan. 5

THE Arunachal Pradesh annual Plan size for the next fiscal was pegged at Rs 1,100 crore today at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the State Chief Minister, Mr Gegong Apang.

Mr Ahluwalia said that States like Arunachal Pradesh would be the biggest beneficiary of the new initiatives instituted by the Central Government in recent times.

By dint of its poor infrastructure and geographical position, Arunachal Pradesh would immensely benefit from programmes like Bharat Nirman, Rural Health Mission, Employment Guarantee, and Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan.

More generally, he said, the States of the North-Eastern region are likely to benefit further as efforts are on to fine-tune the special package for the region.

The State was asked to evolve participatory family-based planning at all levels. Attention was also drawn to the fall in the development expenditure and lack of adequate health facilities.

It was suggested that emphasis should be given to developing tourism infrastructure on priority. He said that the Plan panel has committed full support for the early completion of the airport at Itanagar.

Mr Apang pleaded for special consideration for the State while enforcing criteria for development schemes, stating that the State was passing through a very difficult situation.

He said that the growing fiscal gap has put severe strain on the State economy and highlighted the debt service burden running to Rs 200 crore a year.