Assam will get Rs 5011 crore for the year 2008-09. It was finalized here on Monday at a meeting between Planning Commission, Deputy Chairman Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Kumar Gogoi.
According to official confirmation, the Annual Plan size has been agreed at Rs.5011 crores. This includes special plan assistance of Rs.250 crores for identified projects of the State, of this, Rs.20 crores will be earmarked for development of Majuli Island. The special plan assistance release will be conditional upon Assam providing fully for its share of Centrally sponsored schemes.
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. Ahluwalia complimented the State for improving financial health and doubling growth rate during Tenth Plan period. He said the State government should further step up efforts to accelerate development process and aim at bringing Assam at par with developed states of the country at the earliest.
Assam was also complimented for performance under Bharat Nirman programme. Efforts should be increased to reach targets in irrigation and drinking water sectors. The state was also advised to evolve a strategy convergence of social sector schemes so as to maximize benefits from Centrally sponsored schemes. In view of huge handloom sector potential, the State was advised to encourage cluster approach, necessary for tapping export potential.
Briefing the Commission on the performance of the state, Mr Gogoi said Assam has achieved the objectives of eliminating the revenue deficit and reducing fiscal deficit to 3 per cent of the GSDP by 2005-06. He also informed the Commission that revenue and fiscal deficits have turned into surplus of Rs.2210.42 crores and Rs.711.35 crores respectively in 2006 and 2007.
According to Mr. Gogoi, the State has achieved an industrial growth rate of 8.02 per cent in the Tenth Plan and efforts are being made to encourage growth of small and cottage industry during the Eleventh Plan period. He said the survey sector has shown promising growth and Assam is likely to achieve higher growth in the sector.
Mr. Gogoi asked the Commission to modify the power policy so that surplus power generated through the Mega projects in the North East Region should be first made available on priority to deficit States in the region before being evacuated to other States. He said the Government should explore the possibility of opening air links between Guwahati and Eastern Countries.
PermalinkSubmitted by pradyut barua on Mon, 04/02/2008 - 15:06
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In yet another tragic incident, the children met watery grave and five persons went missing after a boat manned by National Disaster Response Force personnel on a rescue mission to help flood-stranded people capsized at Makum in Tinsukia district on Sunday.
According to reports, there were around 15 people in the boat, including Army and NDRF personnel when it capsized at around 4 in the afternoon in Barekuri area of Makum in the flood waters. An operation has been launched to search for the five missing persons.
Schools and colleges in Majuli have been closed indefinitely from Monday. The decision was taken in view of rising flood waters which have submerged over 70 per cent landmass of the river island. The district administration issued the ordered on Sunday afternoon. A nine-member SDRF team has been airlifted to the island to help rescue stranded people in the affected areas.
The United Liberation Font of Asom’s anti-talk faction on Sunday comes down heavily on BJP and its youth wing alleging that the proposed procession in Arunachal Pradesh would only provoke China. In an e-mail statement, the anti-talk faction of the outfit said that the proposed mid-October procession along Indo-China border would only provoke the neighbor. It further asked BJP’s youth wing not to make the people of Assam a scapegoat. Notably, BJP’s youth wing is gearing up to take out a procession in Arunachal Pradesh to offer tribute to the 1962 heroes.
The Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park have been reeling under floods and there is no hope of an immediate relief. Alert has been sounded in the Kaziranga National Park. At least 15 anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga have been submerged, forcing the security staff to shift to boats in order to keep an eye on poachers. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Nimatighat, Dhemaji, Tezpur and Dhansirimukh in Kaziranga.
Dispur has deployed at least 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 army teams and 18 teams of the State Disaster Response Force in relief and rescue efforts in worst flood affected districts. IAF has deployed four helicopters in the Sadia subdivision in Tinsukia district to air drop necessary food items and rescue marooned people. Ferry services have also been stopped at Sadia and Majuli in Jorhat district as the Brahmaputra river is over flowing. Several villages have been submerged in Sadia and Majuli.
The flood situation turns grim with over 800,000 people affected in at least 15 districts. According to information, seven people died during the past one week where over 700 villages have also been submerged in the affected areas. The worst-hit districts are Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
The devastating flood waters are posing serious threat to Guwahati where parts of the premier north eastern city have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra. Surging waters of the mighty river have spilled into Pandu where over 1000 houses have been inundated on Saturday midnight. Some more areas are feared to have been submerged in the city. If the water level of the mighty river continues to rise, then fancy bazaar, Lakhtakia, Maligaon and Panbazar would be submerged within the next 24 hours.
The Assam government deploys evacuation tram in the flood hit areas and announced relief measures. But those displaced have not yet received anything. Talking to assamtimes, affected people in Dhemaji and Majuli said that the relief measures are confined to som selected pockets. Thousands of people in he remote areas are still remaining trapped without any help.
The fourth flood wave continue to wreak havoc displacing nearly 5 lakh people during the last five days. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are overflowing following the incessant rains in ArunachalPradesh. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and more than seven lakh people are said to be affected in the heavy and incessant rainfall over the past few days. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup and Barpeta are worst-hit where surface communication remains heavily disrupted. Flood waters are posing serious threat to Majuli along with Kaziranga, Manah and Dibru saikhowa.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has strongly denied sending Koyu with money meant for AICC fund. In a statement, Tuki said that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “I never asked any Koyu to send any money to party high command. Congress party doesn't transfer money like this”, he said. Meanwhile, Koyu who happens to be the president of All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Society has filed an FIR against Joshi. Papum Pare SP Hibu Tamang said that the Rs.1 crore has got nothing to do with the Congress party or the chief minister.
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