New Delhi, May 29: Despite continuous shortfall in expenditure realisation, the Centre today agreed for a plan size of Rs 2500 crore, an increase of Rs 300 crore from last year, for Jammu and Kashmir this fiscal because of the special interest shown by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to accelerate the pace of development in the restive state. The plan size was agreed at Rs 100 crore less than what was suggested by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to deputy chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant. The Prime Minister, during his recent visit to the valley, had announced that the plan size could be fixed at Rs 2600 crore for the state.

Neither Sayeed nor Pant was inclined to make the annual plan size an issue as the state chief minister himself agreed for the plan outlay to be fixed at Rs 2500 crore.

The meeting between the two sides was held at the Planning Commission here.

"Both Planning Commission and the finance ministry gave extra allocations to the state to reach the figure of Rs 2500 crore," Pant said here after the meeting.

He said the state chief minister had sent a letter to him requesting for Rs 2500 crore plan this year.

"Despite continuous shortfall in the plan expenditure, Planning Commission and finance ministry, in view of the Prime Minister's special interest to accelerate pace of development in the trouble-torn state, agreed to provide assistance to reach their request," Pant said.

Bureau Report