The State's Plan for 2008-09 has been set at Rs 7,500 crore. It was finalised during a meeting between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Monday. Earlier, the State had put forth a demand of Rs 7,100 crore to the Planning Commission.
During a period of three years, the plan size has doubled. It will help the State achieve the targeted growth rate of 9 per cent during the 11th Plan. The average annual growth rate for Orissa during the 10th Plan was estimated at 8.59 per cent against the target of 6.2 per cent. "We have achieved a growth rate of 8.59 per cent," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.As the State Government has already declared 2008 as the 'Year for Irrigation', the plan outlay allocates 20 per cent for irrigation. The plan lays special emphasis on improving the infrastructure, on education with focus on education of tribal girls, health and the strengthening of Mission Shakti (Women Self Help Groups). They have been provided credit linkage of more than Rs 900 crore.
During discussions, Patnaik reiterated the demand for the Vijayawada-Ranchi road. It was decided that this road would receive an outlay of Rs 300 crore during 2008-09 with participation from Planning Commission, Ministry of Surface Transport and Government of Orissa in equal measure.While presenting the highlights of the proposed plan to the Planning Commission on Monday in New Delhi, the Chief Minister demanded an increase in the fund flow to Orissa under various schemes such as Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Patnaik also repeated his demands for the establishment of educational institutes such as IIT, IIM, IIIT and Central University in Orissa to meet the growing need for highly skilled manpower for many upcoming industries within the State.
He demanded exemption from Income Tax and Central Excise Tax for the KBK region for a period of 10 years for attracting investment in the region. He urged that the royalty on coal and other minerals be revised on an ad valorem basis without any further delay, and that the iron export duty levied by Central Government on major minerals be transferred in full to the concerned States.
Discussions also took place on the National Mineral Policy. The member of Planning Commission, Anwarul Hoda informed the Chief Minister that the joint memorandum presented by the Chief Ministers of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to the Prime Minister was under active consideration. Orissa has pioneered the principle of value addition to minerals within the State in order to attract industries and thereby generate additional job opportunities and revenues.
In view of the vast coal reserves in Orissa, there is a huge potential for setting up power plants which will make Orissa the power house of the country. The Chief Minister of Orissa demanded that adequate compensation be paid to the power producing States for mitigating the environmental and displacement cost. Patnaik also reiterated his demand for Special Category Status for Orissa.
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