CHAPTER-III
SPECIAL AREA PROGRAMMES
Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi and Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi
In order to ensure the twin objectives of balanced development and reducing inter-regional disparities and backwardness, the State Government had created Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi for eastern region of Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi for Bundelkhand districts in the year 1990-91. The objective behind the creation of two Nidhis is to fund the schemes/projects which are important for the development of the area and which can not be sanctioned in the State or District sectors, but which are still significant from the view of balanced development and local felt needs to redress the regional disparities. Thus schemes funded by Nidhis are as an additional to the development efforts of the State Government.
2. It is worth mentioning that such type of projects are to be implemented from the Nidhis which could create permanent assets and could lessen the economic backwardness of the concerned area. The projects which can not be included in the State Plan and District Plan or if they are not fully funded from the State/District plan, are implemented through the Nidhis. Thus, the Nidhis provide supplementary funds to the projects which are being implemented for the development of the respective ragion.
3. Generally the schemes/projects which are capital intensive and which can normally be completed in two years time, are underetaken through these Nidhis. The schemes/projects approved in the Nidhis are generally meant for the development of the infrastructure like construction of roads, minor bridges, minor irrigation, installation of power sub-stations drinking water facilities, educational buildings, flood control (river check dams etc.) etc.
4. Thus, each project creates infrastructure in the concerned backward area. The capital is generated in the form of roads, power substations, buildings etc. The Nidhis basically finances the capital formative projects. This type of capital formation makes easier access to the remote areas of the region and helps the regional development indirectly in the form of more crops, increased employment opportunities, establishment of factories, school and other social facilites. So the Nidhis removes the obstacles in the way of economic growth and development of the region.
5. The districts covered under Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi are- Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur, Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Chitrakoot. Whereas Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi now covers 29 districts namely Varanasi, Chandoli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Sonbhandra, SantRavidas Nagar, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Maharajganj, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Siddharth Nagar, Ballia, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Faizabad, Ambedkarnagar, Sultanpur, Gonda, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur and Barabanki.
6. Under the Nidhis schemes and projects are identified according to the local felt needs of the area at the district level and they are proposed by Hon'ble member of Legislative Assembly/council and they are examined at the district/divisional/Government level. Income generating programmes and minimum needs programmes are given the top priority.
7. Fifty percent of the total allocation of Nidhis is earmarked for sanctioning of projects at district level and remaining fifty percent is earmarked for the schemes sanctioning at the State level. The schemes which cost upto Rs. 10.00 lakh are sanctioned by the divisional commissioners and are funded by the district level allocation of Nidhis. Schemes and projects which cost more than Rs. 10.00 lakh are sanctioned at the Government level with prior approval of Hon'ble Chief MInister through Hon'ble Ministrer for Planning.
8. In the year 2000-2001 Rs. 185.04 crore and Rs. 59.51 crore were spent under Poorvanchal & Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhis respectively. For the year 2001-2002 an outlay of Rs. 150.00 crore and Rs. 50.00 crore is a allocated for Poorvanchal & Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi respectively. Out of this 21% of district level allocation were quantified for special component plan.
9. During the Tenth Five Year Plan an outlay of Rs. 2390.21 Crore. has been allocated for Special Area Development Programme out of which the share of Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi is Rs. 750.00 crore and of Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi is Rs. 250.00 Crore. The total outlay for the year 2002-2003 is Rs. 431.00 crore in which Rs. 150 crore is allotted for Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi and the remaining Rs. 50.00 crore is for Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi.
10. So far as the fixation of physical targets during the Tenth Plan and annual plan 2002-03 is concerned, the same cannot be envisaged since the projects would be proposed and formulated as per local felt needs from time to time. However, the projects taken for approval would be in accordance with the guidelines of the Nidhis .
Others Packages
11. In order to remove regional disparities and to provide a fillip to existing critical gaps in the process of development, “Special Packages” in the form of central assistance is being provided from the year 2000-2001 for the various sectors of development. It includes Poorvanchal Package, Bundelkhand Package, Madhyanchal package, Pashimanchal Package and Critical Gaps Package covering all the 70 districts of the State. The activities undertaken under these packages relate mainly to irrigation, flood control, roads, power, education, horticulture etc.
12. In the year 2001-2002 an outlay of Rs. 210.00 crore is allocated for the various packages. The packagewise details are mentioned below:
(Rs. in lakh)
|
Sl. No. |
Name of package |
Approved outlay |
|
1. |
Bundelkhand |
7998.28 |
|
2. |
Madhyanchal |
2578.21 |
|
3. |
Pashimanchal |
3615.68 |
|
4. |
Poorvanchal |
6013.32 |
|
5. |
Critical gaps |
794.51 |
|
|
Total |
21000.00 |
13. For the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007) and Annual Plan (2002-2003), outlays of Rs. 1390.21 crore and Rs. 231.00 crore respectively have been proposed for the packages.