NEW DELHI, August 11: Punjab couldn't have had it better. And why not? After battling years of militancy and other problems, it's son of the soil has truly paid back his home state in impressive style. In an unprecedented gesture towards Punjab, Prime Minister I K Gujral has prevailed upon the Planning Commission to sanction Rs 14,300 crore during the 9th plan (1997-2002) registering an increase of 120 per cent over the 8th plan, which offered Rs 6,570 crore. The plan was cleared at a high-level meeting in the Planning Commission today presided over by deputy chairman Madhu Dandavate. The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh and other officials.

Sources said that it was first time that the Planning Commission gave its approval to almost all proposals, mooted by the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government, in its submissions.

The Punjab Chief Minister had called on Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on several occasions in the past and impressed upon him that it was high time that justice be bestowed on the state. Punjab has lived through insurgency, three wars and partition and had always been discriminated against, he said.

So much so that the proposal to waive off Rs 8,500 crore spent by the state government to fight terrorism had been hanging fire for several years.

The Planning Commission laid special emphasis on infrastructure development in rural and urban areas for the state and 75 per cent of the total outlay (Rs 10,500 crore) has been allocated to this sector.

The infrastructure in rural areas has been given a major thrust and as much as Rs 768 crore been allocated in the 9th plan as against Rs 187 crore in the 8th plan. The grant-in-aids amounting to Rs 568.43 crore shall be given to Panchayati Raj Institutions for carrying out development works.

The irrigation sector has been accorded top priority by giving Rs 1,598 crore as against Rs 636 crore in the 8th Plan which marks an increase of more than 150 per cent. The problem of water logging in the state shall be taken on a war-footing basis and Rs 400 crore have been allocated. The agriculture and allied sectors have been allocated Rs 771.74 crore and industry RS 350 crore.

Expressing his gratitude to the Planning Commission and the Prime Minister, Badal said it was a good gesture on the part of the Central Government. Madhu Dandwate has given a special assistance of Rs 7.5 crore for setting up of Jallianwala Bagh Martyr's Memorial Hospital at Amritsar as a tribute to the great Punjabi warriors who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom of the country.

Those who were present at the meeting on behalf of the Planning Commission included Bimal Jalan, SP Shukla, G Thimmaiah, JS Bajaj, SR Hashim and MR Srinivasan and Ratanamala Savanoor, Miister of State for Planning.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.