• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Our Bureau

The power sector outlay in the Annual Plan has been fixed at Rs 630 crore. The strategy would be to attain an optimal energy mix of thermal and hydel power with special focus on tapping the small hydel power potential.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 14

WHILE the Kerala Budget for 2003-04 has reiterated the State Government's desire to make the best of the feel-good factor generated by the successful conduct of the Global Investors Meet (GIM), it has set apart major allocations for the power, tourism and PDS sectors as well.

In his Budget speech, the Finance Minister, Mr K. Sankaranarayanan, said the State Government had already set up an Industries Promotion Board chaired by the Chief Secretary as a fast-track mechanism for expeditiously processing investment proposals submitted at GIM.

He set apart Rs 100 crore for the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) for financing the Government participation in GIM projects, wherever required. This is in addition to the regular provision of Rs 13 crore for Kinfra in the Budget. The Kerala State Industries Development Corpo- ration (KSIDC) has been allocated Rs 25 crore for the coming year. The Budget has provided Rs 84 crore for restructuring the public sector enterprises on the basis of plans drawn up by the Enterprise Reforms Committee and appro= ved by the State Government.

The power sector outlay in the Annual Plan has been fixed at Rs 630 crore. The strategy would be to attain an optimal energy mix of thermal and hydel power with special focus on tapping the small hydel power potential.

During 2002-03, the Government had given Rs 200 crore as grant to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in order that the revenue deficit is brought down. For the coming year, an amount of Rs 175 crore is being provided for the purpose.

In the civil supplies sector, the Finance Minister said the State Government was committed to continuing with the time-tested PDS system, for which Rs 111 crore has been earmarked.

The State Government accorded the highest priority for tourism, which would play a lead role in creating more job opportunities in the State. Increase in travel and tourism will also have an enormous spin-off benefit for the economy.

The tourism sector has been allocated Rs 74.25 crore under the Annual Plan. Infrastructure development work would be taken up in major destinations at a cost of Rs 22.55 crore. An amount of Rs 10 crore has been set apart for tourism marketing.

Another major initiative that the Finance Minister announced was a scheme for better service delivery in select institutions. The Government will prepare a list of institutions rendering health, education and social services in each district accessed by a maximum number of the poor and the needy.

"We will have a service delivery policy for these institutions, which sill reflect what level of service each person coming to this institution, particularly those from the BPL families, is entitled to. We will take up maintenance work in these institutions and upgrade their standards. The scheme will be implemented from June this year and I have set apart Rs 83.25 core in four different heads of account for this purpose," the Minister said. The Budget has allocated Rs 31.60 crore for the IT sector in the State. In the agriculture sector, the State Government has approved the plan for setting up an Agri Export Zone (AEZ) for fruits and vegetables covering nine districts. A nucleus fund of Rs 2.87 crore has been allocated for the purpose.

The Silent Valley Biosphere and portions of the Western Ghats would be developed into what is being touted as the world's first Herbal Bio Valley. A token allocation of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for the purpose.

Other major heads of allocations are crop husbandry (Rs 93.75 crore), integrated coconut development (Rs 10.50 crore) and a Virtual University for Trade (Rs 1 crore).

In animal husbandry, an amount of Rs 17.55 crore has been earmarked for improving the quality of veterinary care. The animal husbandry and dairy development sectors would together get Rs 46.32 crore.

Substantial resource inflows of Rs 50 crore are expected from the local governments.

Other major allocations are: Public works (Rs 273.87 crore), Irrigation (Rs 141 crore), Water supply and sanitation (Rs 186.88 crore), Education (Rs 105.25 crore), Upliftment of Scheduled Castes (Rs 136.67 crore), the Kerala Development Programme for strengthening local governments (Rs 73 crore), the Kudumbashree poverty eradication project (Rs 18.50 crore), Science and Technology (Rs 37.50 crore), Capital city development programme for Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 75 crore).

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Safeguard probe on Bisphenol imports

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line