J and K Govt to create investors friendly atmosphere: Omar

NEW DELHI - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday assured the Planning Commission that his government would take steps to create investors friendly atmosphere in the state.

Briefing the Planning Commission during meeting with commission’s Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Abdullah said he would concentrate to maintain fiscal discipline in order to make process of development more sustainable.

He informed the planning commission that horticulture and tourism would be focal points of development.

Abdullah assured the commission that social services and road development would get priority in the plan outlay.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahluwalia said the Jammu and Kashmir Government should work out an action plan for rapid development of the State during twelfth plan period, which ensures that the fruits of development reach people in all parts of the State equally.

He suggested the state government to explore more avenues of revenue generation ways as the State has abundant natural resources to create more streams of revenue generation.

The Annual Plan for Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2010-11 was finalized at Rs.6000 crores during the meeting.

Planning Commission appreciated State’s plan to develop 690 megawatt (MW) power generation capacity in private-public-partnership mode.

The balance hydropower generation potential also needs to be similarly exploited, as it holds the key to State’s economic growth and for generating resources to fund its development schemes.

The meeting suggested the state government to encourage the expansion of wind farm based capacity and non-conventional systems based on solar and biomass.

The commission said that employment generation in J and K is a priority area. Handicraft and Tourism sector hold high potential in absorbing unemployed youth.

The Planning Commission advised the J and K to initiate more steps to draw up a skill development plan to enhance employability of its youths.

The commission felt that there are large gaps in the delivery of health services mainly due to shortage of manpower and asked the state to take appropriate steps to fill these critical gaps and have focused attention on inclusive growth.

On infrastructure development, the commission opined that incentives in the form of policies should be offered to make private sector active partner in the development of both social and physical infrastructure. (ANI)