Plan panel okays Rs 560 cr for Tripura

NEW DELHI, February 9: The Planning Commission Thursday approved a Plan size of Rs 560 crore for Tripura for 2001-02 after a meeting between Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and commission deputy chairman K C Pant, reports UNI. In his opening remarks at the meeting, Pant asked Tripura to cut administrative expenses and adopt a prudent fiscal policy to mobilise additional resources so that the central Plan assistance was fully utilised for developmental activities and creation of infrastructure, particularly communication, roads and power, an official press note said. The commission had approved ten projects costing Rs 505 crore for funding from non-lapsable central pool. Funds for eight projects under the scheme had also been released. The state was asked to evolve an action plan for growing bamboo and rubber in the degraded forest area. Pant appreciated the state government for revising power tariff and improvements in transmission and expressed confidence that the initiatives would help reduce the losses of the state electricity department. The state also had to reduce the high dropout rates at the primary school level among the weaker sections of society. It had good potential for development and promotion of horticulture crops and plantation crops like tea, rubber and spices. Sarkar pleaded for central support in securing more externally aided projects. The state had introduced a perspective plan for self-sufficiency in food, taking into account the facilities of irrigation, power, seeds, fertiliser and credit.