India's Planning Commission has fixed annual plan outlay for Tamil Nadu for the year 2008-09 at Rs.16,000 crore ($4 billion).

India's Planning Commission has fixed annual plan outlay for Tamil Nadu for the year 2008-09 at Rs.16,000 crore ($4 billion).

The Eleventh Plan for Tamil Nadu has been approved at Rs.85,344 crore which is more than double the Tenth plan outlay of Rs.40,000 crores.

According to Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, during the Eleventh Plan period, the state will focus on revitalizing agriculture, improving urban and rural quality of life by developing the social and economic infrastructure, improving health of women, and implementing Metro rail project in the lines of Delhi Metro Rail Project.

Karunanidhi has also requested the Planning Commission to ensure Central funding for the linking intra-state rivers under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

State Finance Minister P.K. Anbazhagan, who met Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Feb. 11, said he was happy to note that the Center had declared 14 projects for inter-linking of rivers as national assets with 90 percent central funding.

Anbazhagan has also urged the Planning Commission for providing free LPG connections and gas stoves to poor families in order to mitigate the sufferings of the womenfolk engaged in the traditional way of cooking with firewood.

According to a government official, the Tamil Nadu government is not very happy with the allocated amount and after discussion, may put forward a special request for additional financial assistance for pursuing the projects under the Bharat Nirman scheme of the central government.