Shimla, Feb 4 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday said a state annual plan of Rs.5,200 crore has been proposed for the next fiscal with an increase of Rs.400 crore over the present fiscal.
Presiding over a meeting of legislators here for finalising priorities for the 2016-17 budget, he said that with the consistent efforts of the state, the central government has restored the funding for core centrally sponsored schemes in the ratio of 90:10.
With a view to avoiding unwanted delay in preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs), the state government has made provisions in the present budget for preparing DPRs on an outsource basis, he added.
He said a skill development corporation has been set up and in-principle approval granted to Rs.640 crore scheme for implementing various skill development programmes.
The chief minister announced enhancing the maximum limit for sending DPRs to NABARD from Rs.50 crore to Rs.60 crore per assembly segment from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil suggested adopting the solar power fencing project of Kerala to tackle the menace of stray animals in the state.
He said the model could prove to be effective in avoiding losses to horticulture and agriculture produce.
Tourism, horticulture and hydro-power generation are major contributors to the state’s economic development.