Besides social and energy sectors, transport, roads and bridges sector and agriculture and allied services sectors, had an allocation of Rs 197.69 crore and Rs 183 crore respectively, which was 13.73 per cent and 12.71 per cent of the approved annual plan-size, the spokesman said.

He stated that there had been a substantial increase in the outlays for various sectors in the present plan as compared to the last year. A sum of Rs 196 crore was being provided for the transport and communication sector against a sum of Rs 109.33 crore in the last year plan, the spokesman said.

In the energy sector, a sum of Rs 223.51 crore had been earmarked against Rs 167.14 crore during the last year. The spokesman added that for the agriculture and allied services sector an amount of Rs 183 crore had been provided against last year's sum of Rs 132.84 crore. In the rural development sector, a sum of Rs 67.37 crore was being provided against Rs 48.60 crore and in irrigation and flood control sector a sum of Rs 65.70 crore had been earmarked, the spokesman concluded.

Dhumal to lay stone: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will lay the foundation stone of the four-storey Vivekanand Bhavan and a commercial complex on October 25. The bhavan is being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh at the behest Vivekanand Centre, Kanya Kumari, and would be the main centre of welfare activities in the town.

Convenor of Shimla centre, Gian Chand Sanhotra today said Minister of State for Horticulture Narinder Bragta would preside over the function.

He said the state government had already leased land for this centre. This bhavan will consist of a yoga hall, library and an auditorium.