PUNE, 5 March 2005 — In what looks like an act of generosity, the federal Planning Commission has allocated Maharashtra more funds than the state bargained for.
Speaking to Arab News here yesterday on his return from New Delhi, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh lavished praise on Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, for granting a hike of Rs.5 billion for the state’s annual plan for the year 2005-2006. The proposal for the state’s annual plan was initially pegged at Rs.105.86 billion. The Planning Commission, taking into account the financial presentation made by the chief minister and his team, was so impressed that it increased this amount to Rs.110 billion.
Deshmukh said the additional funds would be spent on crucial irrigation projects. “The Planning Commission was extremely positive on our demands. We will be getting more central funds soon,” Deshmukh said.
Ahluwalia said the generous allocation was necessary to make Bombay a world class city.