Manipur gets Rs.590 cr.

The Plan size for Manipur for 2003-2004 has been finalised at Rs.590 crore, including an additional Central assistance of Rs.70 crore for priority scheme.
The Plan size was fixed at a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Shri K.C. Pant and Manipur Chief Minister Shri O. Ibobi Singh on September 02, 2003.

Emphasising the need for the state to focus on resource mobilisation Shri Pant said in 2002-2003 the state’s tax and non-tax revenue was in the negative by Rs.29.07 crore, whereas expenditure on salaries, pensions and interest payments mounted to Rs.587.15 crore.

Shri Singh pointed out that the state had taken measures to regulate non-Plan expenditure. Orders for abolishing 12,012 posts had been issued, a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for government employees was under formulation, retrenchment of employees in unviable PSUs had been taken up and power tariffs had been revised.
Complimenting the state for its progress in attaining better literacy levels and good demographic and health indices, Shri Pant said the state had succeeded in covering 8 out of its 9 districts under the total literacy programme and achieved replacement-level fertility besides a low level of infant mortality and death rates.

Punjab offers sops to stop flight of units

The Punjab government has finalised a package for industries. It involves a five year exemption from electricity duty, Octroi and purchase tax for the new units, has been firmed up to arrest the flight of industries from Punjab because of sops to industry being offered by Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttatranchal.
Announcing the package, Punjab Chief Minister, Shri Amarinder Singh said : “This initiative has been taken with the dual objectives of attracting investment and dealing with the problem of unemployment”. Shri Singh said the units would generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 5,000 and 15,000 people, respectively.

Himachal exports 11.5m apple boxes

Himachal Pradesh had exported over 11.5 million standard size apple boxes during the current season.

Apple production was likely to be around 22.5 million boxes this year against the last year’s 19.1 million boxes.

Uttaranchal to develop 22 new tourist sites

The Uttaranchal government has identified 22 places to be developed as tourist destinations to take off the pressure of tourists from Mussorrie and Nainital.
Uttaranchal Tourism Minister, Shri T.P.S. Rawat said a Rs.58 crore scheme to improve infrastructure in these places had been prepared and the state tourism department had sought Rs.30 crore assistance from the 12th Finance Commission.

The Khirsu-Landowne and the Pithoragarh-Munsiyari circuits were prominent among the new destination being focused upon. The tourism department had also put forward a proposal to develop the “char dham yatra” circuit costing Rs.180 crore before the commission.

Uttaranchal to set up film board

The Uttaranchal government is to set up a film board to give a boost to the film industry in the state, Information Minister Ms. Indira Hridayesh said in Dehradun on September 03, 2003.

The board would comprise members who were involved in the film trade. The state government had also prepared a new film policy.
A directory of places in Uttaranchal where film and television serials could be shot was also being prepared.

Uttaranchal plans software park

The Uttaranchal government will set up a software development park in the Sahastradhara area, near Dehradun.

The park is being developed on the lines of the Manesar software park in Haryana. The state government was also planning to set up a software technology park in the state capital.

Rs.55 crore complex in Srinagar soon

The Srinagar Development Authority plans to set up a self-financed Rs.55 crore commercial complex near the state road transport corporation yard.
The Rs.9 crore first phase of the project is expected to be completed in two years according to Shri Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Vice Chairman of the authority.
The project complex will house, apart from shops and offices, a haat, crafts bazaar, a multiplex, amusement park, art gallery, auditorium and parking lot for 600 vehicles.

Rajasthan okays Rs.400 cr proposals

Five large and medium industrial units in the information technology, entertainment and energy sectors are likely to be set up in three years at an estimated cost of Rs.400 crore in Rajasthan.

These projects were sanctioned at a meeting of the Board of Infrastructure Development and Investment Promotion (Bidi), held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Shri Ashok Gehlot.

To ensure faster development in the communication sector, it had been decided that companies relating to the cellular, mobile equipment and towers would not need to obtain permission from different departments.

At the meeting, it was also decided to allot land to Perfexa Solution Pvt. Ltd. an American company, which had recently opened its office in India.
The company would set up a call centre that would provide employment to nearly 2,500 people. Land had also been identified for the development of the Information Technology town in Jaipur.

Rs.7 cr sericulture plan for Himachal

The Central Silk Board has approved a Rs.6.76 crore plan for development of sericulture in Himachal Pradesh.

This allocation had been made as part of the state’s share for implementation of various schemes under the “catalytic development programme” for improvement, generation of employment and for overall development of the seri-culture industry during 10th Plan (2002-2007).

Sericulture is emerging as an important cottage industry in Himachal Pradesh providing subsidiary employment to farmers and also supplementing their income by way of rearing silkworms for production of silk-cocoons.

The state government will contribute Rs.85,000 as part of its share for implementation of these schemes. Farmers will be given help to adopt seri-culture as a vocation for sustainable livelihood for technology adoption, productivity improvement and development of other sericulture activities.

Grain supply up in MP

The Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation has lifted and supplied 20.8 million quintal of foodgrain under the public distribution system and other schemes during last fiscal, an increase of 5.5 million quintal as compared to 2001-2002.

This was possible because of improved transportation and storage arrangements made by the state government under its policy for grain banks. The corporation executed agreements with transporters to take foodgrain to the end points within a time limit.

To ensure safe storage and smooth transportation, the corporation finalised its own storage policy and made arrangements for adequate funds at district level for setting up grain banks. This also prevented any disruption in supply of commodities from the Food Corporation of India godowns.

Lifting and supply of foodgrain by the corporation was 12.5 million quintal in 2000-2001, which rose to 15.3 million quintal in 2001-2002.
Nabard sanctions Rs.111 crore loan to TN

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned Rs.111.51 crore to Tamilnadu for system improvement in power, irrigation, road and bridge under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. The amount was sanctioned recently at the 66th meeting of the project sanctioning committee of the bank held in New Delhi. Under the irrigation sector, Rs.44.65 crore had been sanctioned with a project outlay of Rs.52.93 crore for implementing one medium and 10 minor irrigation works in nine districts.