Bangalore, Jun 10 (DHNS): Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday sought special grants in the form of incentives from the Centre for infrastructure development in Bangalore.
Speaking at the inaugural of a two-day Regional Consultation of Planning Commission with southern states on the Approach Paper to the 12th plan (2012-17), Yeddyurappa said the State had to invest heavily in Bangalore for improving the city’s infrastructure to take forward the IT sector. However, it received no incentives from the Centre.
“Bangalore has brought IT-led export earnings to the tune of $14 billion to the country and deserved to receive substantial assistance from the Union Government for infrastructure development,” Yeddyurappa said. He was confident that the State would achieve the targeted growth rate of 9 to 9.5 per cent for the 12th Plan period.
Yeddyurappa called upon the Centre to provide substantial allocations to launch a major nation-wide campaign for skill enhancement during the 12th Plan.
He felt that the decisions on the construction of Metro within the municipal areas, claim settlements and fare fixation should be assigned with the state government along with formulation of rules.
“The present central legislation (Metro Railway Construction of Works Act 1978 and Metro Railway Operation and Maintenance Act 2002) has no role for the state government at all. In effect, it has taken away the development of Metro from the purview of the State Government,” Yeddyurappa said.
He urged the Centre to consider a policy change whereby all roads brought to national highway standards by various States with their own capital investment are reclassified as national highways.
Planning and Statistics Minister V S Acharya said the State is likely to achieve a target of 112 per cent for the 11th plan. Against a plan allocation of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the State, the anticipated expenditure is likely to be Rs 1.14 lakh crore.
Day one of the consultation meet was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and Kerala Rural Development Minister K C Joseph. Tamil Nadu sent a delegation of officials to participate in the discussions.