Assam gets 33 per cent hike in Annual Plan

Development process in Assam is all set to receive a major boost, as the Planning Commission has increased the State’s annual plan size by 33 per cent. In the next financial year i.e. 2008-09 Assam will receive Rs. 5011 crore, while during the current fiscal the State got Rs. 3800 crore. This has been decided in a meeting between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Aluwalia. Al the members of the Planning Commission were also present in the meeting.

Describing the 33 per cent hike as great news, the Chief Minister claimed that it showed despite problem in the law and order front, the State is making a steady progress towards development.

On the other hand, Montek Singh Aluwalia also praised the efforts of the State Government in bringing fiscal discipline in the State. “Momentum of development has picked up in Assam,” he opined.

During the meeting, highlighting the achievements of his Government, Mr. Gogoi stated that “the state of economy is now on a much stronger footing than ever before. Against the targeted growth rate of 6.2% for the 10th Plan, we have achieved a growth of 5.75%.” The claim got support from Aluwalia, who informed the meeting that Assam has made a steady progress during 9th and 10th plan.

In his plea before the Commission, the Chief Minister expressed concern about the problem areas such as flood, erosion, lack of infrastructure etc. Regarding flood, he said “Flood and erosion are recurring disasters in Assam and cause extensive damage to the standing crops, development infrastructure and human and cattle lives. The control of flood and erosion therefore becomes a prerequisite for development requiring huge investment.” Mr. Gogoi informed that the state Government has already submitted a proposal of Rs. 1900 crore to Brahmaputra Board and also proposed projects worth Rs. 800 crore to ADB to solve the menace. He demanded liberal approach from the Planning Commission for the development of Agriculture in the State.

The Chief Minister also demanded funds for protection of Majuli. He has requested the Planning Commission to provide a special package covering all areas for all round development of the island. The Chief Minister also made a demand of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with full Centre support if private investment is not forthcoming.

Regarding infrastructure, Tarun Gogoi is all in favour of better connectivity. He emphasized the need of important bridges on river Brahmaputra connecting Dhubri-Phulbari, Guwahati-North Guwahati, and Jorhat-North Lakhimpur via Majuli and between Dola-Sadia. The Chief Minister has specially requested the Planning Commission to consider the proposal of connecting south and north bank at appropriate locations. He is in favour of locations near Numaligarh and Gohpur which will save the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary from the adverse affect of heavy road traffic.

Mr. Gogoi has also pointed out that to take the advantage of the Look East policy, international access corridors with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar should be developed and Asian Highway should also be targeted. He further requested that the possibilities of opening of air links between Guwahati and eastern countries should also be explored and developed. He has also sought funds for development of Guwahati. The Chief Minister pleaded for more support to Hill Councils through HADP. He informed that for the development of tea tribe community the State Government has prepared a special plan which will cost Rs. 590 crore. He sought liberal support from the Planning Commission in this regard.

Arguing that Assam is different from other states Mr. Gogoi opined that wherever the private investment is not available to ensure infrastructure development, the Planning Commission should see that development does not suffer in that part of the country. 

“Assam is making progress despite being plagued by insurgency, flood and various other problems,” claims a confident-looking Tarun Gogoi. Encouraged by twin success of Panchayet poll and a good conduct certificate from the Planning Commission, the Chief Minister who was addressing the media in the national capital this afternoon, further predicted a better future for the people of Assam in the ext 5 to 10 years.

According to the Chief Minister, bringing back fiscal discipline in the State is the biggest success of his government. As a result, he claimed that 99 per cent of the funds are being used in development works. Citing figures, he informed that when he took over 50 per cent fund meant for development used to be diverted to meet the salary expenses of the government employees. Mr. Gogoi informed that while during the ninth plan State’s growth rate was 2.84, it has now reached to 5.75. The target during the 10th plan is 6.5. The Chief Minister is not only confident of meeting the target in the remaining years, he predicted that Assam’s growth rate at the end of the 10th plan would be much higher than the target.

From the figures provided by the Chief Minister, it is apparent that the State has made much progress in both industry and service sectors. Industry sector has recorded a growth of 8.02 per cent than earlier growth rate of 0.49 per cent. The growth rate in service sector is 8.49 per cent while the all India average growth rate in the sector is eight per cent. However, Assam recorded a negative growth in agriculture sector.

While informing that his government will put special emphasis on the agriculture sector to bring it back on the rail, Mr. Gogoi admitted that without tackling flood and erosion problems the desired result cannot be achieved. He revealed that the State had sought funds from the Centre to control the menace. Further the State has also sought funds under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojona to increase agricultural production.

Apart from agriculture, other priorities of Mr. Gogoi are education and health. He wants to put stress on vocational training in an effort to generate employment. The Chief Minister said that more universities, medical and engineering colleges would be established in the State. On the health sector, the State Government will put emphasis on drinking water and sanitation. Offering special packages for hill and district councils is also on his agenda. He is also for better road connectivity in the State.

Commenting on the law and order front, the Chief Minister reiterated his appeal to ULFA to come to the negotiation table without any pre condition. About the new extremist group coming up in the State, Mr. Gogoi said that it was a dangerous trend. He hinted that his government may request the Centre to ban such organizations. “Over all law and order situation is under control,” he claimed.

Taking a dig at his detractors the Chief Minister, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi today, claimed that the party high command is happy with his performance. “Though some of my friends predicted doom for Congress and even wrote letters to the central leaders, I was always confident that the party would do well in Panchayat elections,” he stressed. Throwing a challenge to his detractors Mr. Gogoi said “let them write more such letters. So that their credibility will go down, while mine will be up.” Mr. Gogoi also rubbished the claim of the AGP that it had performed well in the Panchayat elections.

The Chief Minister termed the victory of Congress in the recent local elections as a triumph of democracy. “Despite boycott calls and violence, over 70 per cent voters have exercised their rights. It is amazing. This shows that the people of Assam believe that they can only prosper if there is democracy,” he opined. He offered special thanks to ULFA leader Paresh Barua’s sister for contesting in the Panchayat elections.

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