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Punjab seeks Rs
5,000 cr to diversify New Delhi, December 27
A technology mission was needed for the “diversification of agriculture with an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for Green Revolution states”. A fund of Rs 4,000 crore was being provided to states in the North-East to “bring in Green Revolution”. The diversification plan for Punjab should be included in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017), he said. Badal desisted from mentioning Haryana as the other state to implement Green Revolution when the country decided to be self-sufficient in grain crops in 1960s. Punjab, he said, had been apprised of the fact that the Central Government would soon withdraw from the procurement of wheat and paddy, hence diversification was the only way out and it could only be possible with a strong support from the Centre. “A remunerative MSP (minimum support price) and an assured marketing system for alternative crops such as maize, soyabean, cotton and sugarcane is needed,” Badal said at the meeting which was also attended by Chief Ministers of other states. Badal suggested that animal husbandry activities like dairy, poultry, fishery and piggery among others should be treated on a par with agriculture for exemption from the Income Tax and allowing lower interest rates. Badal also sought liberal fixed annual grants to leading agricultural universities for research. He painted a grim picture for agriculture in the state, saying 69 per cent of the population was dependent on it for their livelihood besides providing food security to the nation. Yet their contribution to the GSDP was just 14 per cent. In 1971, he said 77 per cent of the state population was engaged in agriculture and contributed 43 per cent of the GSDP. “Agriculture is facing a serious crisis and is no longer a remunerative preposition. The MSP has not kept pace with the rising cost of agriculture inputs. Punjab farmers are reeling under a whopping debt of Rs 35,000 crore,” the Chief Minister said. The Central Government should fulfil the promise made to bail out Punjab farmers and the state government in the wake of drought-like conditions during the kharif season of 2012, he said. Despite a 42 per cent deficit in rainfall, the state and farmers ensured a bumper production of 133 lakh metric tonne of marketable paddy at a huge extra cost. The Group of Ministers led by Sharad Pawar had announced a drought-relief package, which had not been provided to Punjab. Further, Punjab was ready to commission three thermal power plants of 3,920 MW of collective capacity by May 2014 but Coal India Limited had expressed its inability to provide full coal linkage, he added. He sought full coal linkage for landlocked states like Punjab, which did not have a seaport of their own. Punjab’s wish list
New Delhi, December 27 The Supreme Court has passed two orders to complete the Satluj-Yamuna Link
(SYL) canal. “Although a huge amount has been spent on the construction of
SYL, the canal has not been operationalised till date in spite of the specific directions of the Supreme Court. Further, our neighbouring state (Punjab) unilaterally enacted a law (in 2004) terminating water-related agreements with retrospective effect.” Hooda blamed the Centre saying, “The Union Government, instead of effectively intervening in the matter, has allowed the presidential reference to linger on for more than eight years.” The CM was referring to the presidential reference made by former President APJ Abdul Kalam when the Punjab Assembly enacted a law in 2004 to terminate the inter-state water agreements that had been inked in 1981. Furthermore, the final award of the Ravi-Beas Tribunal has not been published even after 25 years. “The people of Haryana are, therefore, feeling betrayed in this regard,” the Chief Minister said while adding that Haryana’s water availability was only 14 million acre feet
(MAF) while the requirement was of 36 MAF. The CM said, “I urge the Government of India to intervene in the matter and ensure realisation of Haryana’s legitimate rights without any further delay.” Hooda fully endorsed the proposals of 12th Plan (2012-2017) with its objective of achieving a faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth. Like his Punjab counterpart, Hooda also spoke about diversification of agriculture and improving yields through protected cultivation. Hooda suggested that the interest rate should be reduced to 4 per cent.
New Delhi, December 27 The pitch was made by state Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather at the 57th meeting of the National Development Council here today. He said the state’s economy was in a take-off state due to improved security situation and the time was right for investments.
He hailed the PM for continued dialogue with Pakistan and said maintaining peace was an essential condition for the development of the state. “All steps need to be taken to pursue the external dialogue process and initiating internal dialogue with diverse political opinions,” the Finance Minister pointed out as part of the delegation led by Deputy CM Tara Chand. Terming the mounting power deficit as a matter of concern, Rather said, “We need the continued support of the Centre to put the state on the path of high growth trajectory, which is both sustainable and inclusive.” He listed tourist arrival figures to cement his argument. The state saw 1 crore tourists to Vaishno Devi, 6.2 lakh to the Amarnath shrine, 1.8 lakh to Ladakh and 13.14 lakh tourists to the Kashmir valley over the past year. “The peaceful environment also helped in the successful conduct of the panchayat elections which will be followed by elections to the Block Development Councils shortly,” he said seeking Rs 68,000 crore funding in a non-debt manner to help the state achieve the target of 8 per cent average growth in the 12th Plan. The state plans to achieve targeted growth rate through time-bound completion of projects, strict fiscal discipline, reduced PSU losses and sharpened institutional capacities. Rather sought an increase in the LPG cap with respect to J&K to a minimum of 12 cylinders annually as against six in view of the peculiar geo-climatic conditions, sub-zero temperatures in most parts and remoteness of areas. “The Centre should replace tied Special Plan Assistance during the 12th Plan to Untied Special Central Assistance. The release of funds should be made upfront to states like J&K where the working season is brief,” Rather said. He also demanded compensation for the losses suffered by the state due to “discriminatory” provision of the Indus Water Treaty adding that a beginning in this regard could be made by returning the power projects commissioned on the rivers of the state. “The Dulhasti hydro-electric project and Salal project could be transferred to us,” he said demanding enhancement of the quantum of free power (home state share) from the Central generating stations set up within the state to a minimum of 25 per cent as against the present free power of 12 per cent. The state further sought grants of Rs 800 crore for completing 1,160 approved Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana schemes and liberal Central funding for devolution of resources to the panchayats including payment of honorarium to the panches and sarpanches. Another demand from J&K was Central assistance for a comprehensive city mobility plan with an investment of over Rs 30,000 crore during the 12th Plan.
New Delhi, December 27
Promising zero tolerance for corruption, the CM said Himachal will achieve an annual growth rate of 9 per cent per annum in comparison to the national average of 8.2 per cent. “Higher growth rate of 4.5% will be achieved in agriculture and allied sector by increasing farm productivity,” he said, requesting the Centre to incentivise Himachal by providing 50 per cent of its outlay under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in the 12th Plan. Over the next Plan period, the state proposes to bring additional 27,000 hectare under irrigation to enhance growth. Importantly, 70 litres of water per person per day will be provided in the state as against the national average of 55 litres oer person a day during the plan. “Remaining 10,725 habitations out of 53,201 in the state will be provided safe drinking water during the plan,” Virbhadra said, seeking central support for food processing industries in the state and three-fold increase in import duty on apples. On industrial front, Virbhadra sought restoration of air traffic to Himachal and subsidy on heli taxi services on the pattern of north-eastern states. “We seek liberal financial assistance for expansion of existing civil aviation infrastructure in the state and for extension of Shimla airport runway,” the CM said, seeking the declaration of Baddi-Kalka and Bilaspur-Leh via Manali railway lines as projects of national importance and early completion of Nangal Talwara and Bhanupalli Bilaspur Beri railway lines. Infrastructure boost has also been planned in the 12th Plan with the state promising to construct about 7,500 km of new road networks to connect all villages with the population of over 100 persons and build 2,000 km of national highways. To meet power requirements, the state has decided to generate additional 4630 MW hydroelectricity in the 12th Plan. So far, it has harnessed 8368 MW potential out of the total 23000 MW. Singh today asked delegation of power of environmental clearance to the state. On development, the CM has promised to reduce infant mortality rate from 40 to 22 per 1000 live births in the Plan period. Third on the development index, Himachal has 83.78% literacy rate and proposes to make secondary education universal over the next five years. cm’s demand
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Speaking at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting in the Capital, Badal asked the Union Government to help Punjab promote farm diversification.
Speaking at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting here today, Hooda candidly said that the people of Haryana have grievances on the water issue.
Rather,
speaking on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who was not
present, said despite its problems of militancy, difficult weather,
poor connectively and lack of private investment, the state did
decently well in the 11th Plan.
Speaking at the meeting of the National Development Council to finalise the 12th Five Year Plan in which Himachal has received 65% allocation boost (the highest for any state) over the last Plan, Virbhadra said: “The government should continue the subsidy on LPG cylinders due to higher fuel requirements in the in high altitude areas. In the absence of LPG subsidy, the demand of fuel wood will increase, leading to pressure on forest wealth.” The CM also sought revival of the industrial package for Himachal. The state will get Rs 22,800 crore in the 12th Plan.