http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=10735
GOA ANNUAL PLAN FINALIZED 17:48 IST Annual Plan of Goa for the year 2005-2006 has been approved in a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Pratapsingh Rane, here today. The Annual Plan size for Goa was agreed at Rs.1025 crores which includes additional Central assistance of Rs.6 crore for schemes of special importance to the State. The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, complimented the State for excellent economic social and demographic indicators such as high per capita income, high literacy, low population growth rate, good law and order and power surplus. He said the State has achieved high growth rate of 8.7 per cent per annum during 1994-2002. While lauding the farm sector initiatives for market linkages, floriculture development, soil conservation and employment generation, Shri Ahluwalia called for promotion of bio-fertilizers, high value agriculture and horticulture, and expeditious completion of the on-going irrigation projects. He also underlined the need to market Goa as a major holiday destination on the lines of ASEAN countries and promote hinterland tourism. Shri Pratapsingh Rane informed the Commission that the financial position of State was improving. Non-tax revenue during the last three years is growing at 22 per cent and tax revenue during the same period has gone up by 13 per cent. He said BCR was positive and interest payment was at 21 percent of total revenue receipt. He said the State was aiming at providing gainful employment through increased emphasis on agriculture, industry and tourism. Efforts were on to provide quality education and improved governance through IT. He also raised the issue of Central assistance under the formula-based assistance. He appealed that good performance of the State should not reduce allocation to the State from the Central funding. NNK : RK