The state planning department hopes to get a nod from the planning commission for a Rs 3,700 crore annual plan for the next fiscal which is Rs 400 crore more than the current one.

Advisor planning, S K Shad said, "Member, planning commission, Saumitra Chaudhuri is scheduled to hold a meeting here on January 27 during which the 2012-13 annual plan is expected to be firmed up."

The state has been facing falling power revenues, leaving gaps in resource targets.

Shad disclosed that the state had formulated a Rs 3,700 crore annual plan for the next financial year. Unable to mop up larger revenues from power sales and VAT collections, the state's ambition to scale up the annual plan to Rs 4,000 crore or more had to be abandoned.

The shortfall in power sale revenues notwithstanding, Shad said, "In the current year's annual plan the major thrust area is power sector, which is likely to continue in the next annual plan."

Though hydro power generation in the current year has been more than last year, but sources disclosed the revenue is likely to be less than last year.

"It's ironic that the more power you produce, the less you are earning," said a senior government officer. Against last year's power revenue of Rs 1,100 crore, the current year's mop up is likely to just about touch Rs 1,000 crore, he said.

Principal secretary, power, Deepak Sanan said, "Average per unit sale rates have been dropping from Rs 7 per unit in 2008-'09 to Rs 6 per unit in 2009-'10 to Rs 5 per unit last year and is expected to average at Rs 4 per unit in the current year."