The annual Plan for Himachal Pradesh for the 2012-13 was finalised at Rs 3,700 crore on Friday. This was decided at meeting here between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Mr Ahluwalia appreciated the State Government for achieving a growth rate of 8.1 per cent during the 11th Plan and 7.6 per cent for 2011-12. The per capita income of the State has increased by 33.02 per cent during 2004-05 to 2010-11.
It was pointed out that State needed to improve focus on infrastructure development to fully exploiting the potential in sectors such as tourism and hydroelectricity, as also policy initiatives aimed at public-private partnerships, a Plan panel release said.
On the issue of ”green bonus” for hill states, Mr Ahluwalia said that the issue had been referred to the committee under the Chairmanship of Plan panel member, Mr B.K Chaturvedi.
On the issue of discrimination of funding pattern of Centrally-sponsored schemes for special category states, Mr Ahluwalia said a sub-committee was looking into rationalisation and restructuring of these schemes to enhance flexibility.
The Chief Minister said social services would get top priority in the Plan with 32.15 per cent of outlay earmarked for the sector, followed by transport and communication sectors, which would get 21.05 per cent of Plan size. He said the private sector would be involved in a big way in hydel power development.