New Delhi, Feb. 18: Bengal’s annual plan outlay has been fixed at Rs 9,150 crore for 2007-08, an increase of 14 per cent over last year.

The plan size was finalised today at a meeting between Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and chief minister Buddhadab Bhattacharjee.

“After a discussion between the chief minister and the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, the annual plan of the state for the next financial year has been agreed at Rs 9,150 crore,” Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta said.

The Bengal government has projected a five-year plan of Rs 61,784 crore, which is more than double its previous five-year plan outlay of Rs 29,858 crore.

Ahluwalia said, “The review meeting had noted improved farm performance in the state and revival of industrial investment there.”

Dasgupta said the state would concentrate on building infrastructure, generating jobs and improving the farm sector.

The Planning Commission officials added that the state’s power sector reforms and its plan to build the IT infrastructure has been taken well by the commission.

The improvement of the state’s revenues after the introduction of VAT was also a point of discussion.