12TH FIVE YEAR PLAN

Chandigarh UT seeks Rs 5,530.79 crore

Chandigarh, March 1
The UT Administration has sought Rs 5,530.79 crore from the Centre under the 12th Five Year Plan, about 159 per cent more than it had asked during the previous plan.

The proposed annual budget (plan and non-plan) of the Administration is Rs 2,929.48 crore for the financial year 2012-13, which is only 5 per cent more compared with this fiscal budget of Rs 2,805.2 crore. For 2012-13, the UT has proposed Rs 750.70 crore under the plan budget. This fiscal (2011-12), the figure was Rs 661.89 crore.

The UT Finance Secretary, VK Singh, said: “We have got over Rs 200 crore this fiscal, which is more than the previous budget. This is the main reason behind the marginal increase proposed by us for the next fiscal.

“We have envisaged long-term planning for the city, under which the main focus of the Administration would be on urban planning, education, health and transport,” he said.

Highlights of the 12th plan & budget (plan) for 2012-13

Core areas: Integrated urban development, education, health and transport

Urban development, education, particularly women education, health and advanced public transport system, are the main areas on which the Administration has proposed to spend the lion’s share of the budget.

For urban development, the Administration has demanded a whopping budget of Rs 2,062 crore under the 12th plan while in the next fiscal, the proposed budget for the purpose is Rs 238.85 crore.

The Finance Secretary said: “Integrated urban development of the city is on the top of the agenda. It will be done in two ways. Firstly, we have increased the proposed budget manifold for the Municipal Corporation. Secondly, we will upgrade the road infrastructure and highways and other related projects.”

With its proposed budget of Rs 1,187 crore for the next five years, the Administration has sought an increase of 400 per cent in the MC budget against Rs 237.81 crore during the last plan. In 2011-12, the MC budget was Rs 20.95 crore while the proposed budget now is Rs 156 crore.

The envisaged projects under the plan included construction of a new secretariat building (Rs 50 cr); construction of an auditorium of Beant Singh Memorial Trust (Rs 8 cr); construction of eight underpasses (Rs 75 cr); completion of project of slum rehabilitation under JNNURM (Rs 375 cr); construction and improvement of stadia (Rs 108 cr); augmentation of water supply system; development of city roads and highways; solid waste management; and providing basic amenities and services in rehabilitation colonies.

To develop the education scenario, especially women’s education, the Administration has demanded Rs 909.46 crore under the 12th plan while in the next fiscal the Administration has planned to spend Rs 139.71 crore.

“We have planned to construct additional women’s hostels at the GCG-11, GCG-42 and GC-11. The construction of 18 schools in southern sectors and the periphery and upgradation of seven schools, besides developing the existing infrastructural facilities at various schools, will be undertaken in the next five years with an estimated budget of Rs 120 crore,” said VK Singh.

Health: With the proposed budget of Rs 678.33 crore, health will be another prime area. As there is no proposal for the construction of any new hospital in the near future, the amount will be spent on the upgradation of the existing infrastructure of hospitals and clinics. Transport: To bring metro and advanced trams in the city, the Administration has proposed to set aside Rs 250 crore under the 12th plan while Rs 10 crore has been demanded under the annual plan for the next fiscal. The other major proposed expenditure will be the replacement of 208 CTU buses at a cost of Rs 120 crore.

The total budget being sought under the plan is Rs 466.81 crore while the annual budget for 2012-13 is Rs 64.70 crore.

Heritage : The Administration has asked for Rs 20 crore to conserve the heritage of the city. “We will complete unfinished projects of the Capitol Complex in Rs 5 crore while the rest of the amount will be spent on the implementation of the “green code” to achieve sustainable development and ensure compliance with the Centre’s guidelines enunciated in the mission for climate change.

A heritage conservation committee will also be set up,” VK Singh said.