Incomplete projects in KBK to get priority

BHUBANESWAR: The Planning and Coordination Department has asked all the administrative departments to formulate their annual action plans for 2011-12 under Special Plan for KBK Districts and submit it by June 15. In its order, the Department has stated that priority must be accorded to complete the ongoing as well as incomplete projects which are being funded out of the Special Central Assistance (SCA) under the Special Plan for KBK, earlier known as Revised Long Term Action Plant (RLTAP). In fact, the Planning Commission had earmarked ` 130 crore in the shape of SCA for formulation and implementation of the RLTAP for 2011-12. All the administrative departments have been asked to prepare their action plans and submit the same so that the Annual Action Plan, put together by Planning and Coordination Department, can be submitted to the Planning Commission. The Planning and Coordination Department has already approved ` 16.81 crore for the Works Department which will carry out the infrastructure projects for improving connectivity. Similarly, ` 10.68 crore has been proposed for Agriculture Department for development of 150 micro watersheds while the Forest and Environment Department is earmarked about ` 1.8 crore. For drinking water supply projects, ` 10 crore has been proposed for the Urban Development Department. The highest allocation of ` 38 crore has been proposed for Woman and Child Development Department towards emergency feeding programme. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Department has been allocated ` 28 crore. Construction of hostels will be taken up at an estimated ` 10 crore while water supply, electricity, sport activities, scholarship funding will require the rest. The Planning and Coordination Department had come out with a new guideline on formulation of the action plan stating that since a number of infrastructure projects were lying incomplete due to rigid norms, relaxation was necessary. The guidelines had prescribed that projects with high cost and long gestation should be avoided and selection of new projects should be based on feasibility factor.