KL Report

Srinagar

A crucial meeting between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia for finalization of Jammu and Kashmir’s annual plan for the current fiscal is being held in New Delhi on Tuesday.

“The meeting will be held as scheduled on July 9,” Principal Secretary Finance, B.B. Vyas confirmed to KNS.
Prior to the meeting, a high level team of the state government is scheduled to hold consultations with the Planning Commission of India (PCI) on Monday, sources said.

They said the Planning Commission Members and the high level team headed by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and comprising administrative heads of various departments would have day long interactions on different issues regarding the annual outlay.

During the Monday’s meeting the high level team would apprise the Commission about the State’s demand and resources for the current financial year, they said.

The team has already reached New Delhi for interaction with the members of the Planning Commission, the sources added.
The state government has staked claim for outlay in excess of Rs 8,000 crore, nearly ten percent higher than last financial year.

The Commission had approved an outlay of Rs 7,300 crore for the state for 2012-13.

In Tuesday meeting, Omar Abdullah will be accompanied by among others Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and Economic Advisor to J&K Government Jalil Khan.

The meeting has already been deferred three times in the past, reportedly due to differences between the state government and the Planning Commission over low revenue generation by the J&K government during the last few financial years.
The Planning Commission had also reportedly expressed unhappiness over poor revenue generation as it is of the view that the state cannot continue to get heavy assistance from it for long period.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here