Plan panel begins consultations on 12th Plan approach (Hindu 24 May 2011)

Starting with the northern region, the Planning Commission on Monday launched the process of consultations with Chief Ministers on formulation of the Approach Paper to the12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) as directed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to commence work immediately on preparation of a draft.
As flagged in its presentation at the full meeting of the Planning Commission presided over by the Prime Minister on April 21, issues with regard to water, energy and infrastructure also emerged as the main topics for discussion at the meeting with the seven northern States.
The meeting also marked the beginning of consultation with States to formulate the Approach Paper for the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). This comes at a time when the country is looking at raising the average economic growth to 9-9.5 per cent from 8.2 per cent expected in the current Plan.
Briefing the media, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said: “Today's (Monday) meeting showed that water and energy, two issues considered important by us, are also on priority list of States”.
Elated by the consensus on issues that need to be tackled, Mr. Ahluwalia noted that during the meeting Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit favoured the establishment of a ‘Water Regulatory Authority'. “Another CM pointed to water management, groundwater depletion and watershed management. I am happy that the CMs have called for action to find a solution to the water issue. Energy was also a major issue raised by the states,” he said.
Many suggestions
Pointing to a “large number of suggestions” made by the States, he said: “We will take them into account when we finally get around [to preparing the Approach Paper]”. Apart from Mr. Ahluwalia and members of the Plan panel, the meeting was attended by the chief ministers of Delhi (Shiela Dikshit), Haryana (Bhupinder Singh Hooda) and Himachal Pradesh (Prem Kumar Dhumal) while Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Union territory of Chandigarh were represented by senior ministers and officials.
Mr. Ahluwalia noted that similar consultations would be held with other States soon. “Within the next three weeks or so, I hope that the consultations will be over. We had the consultations with northern States. It will be followed by other regions -- western, southern, eastern and north-eastern,” he said.
As for the other issues that came up for discussion, Mr. Ahluwalia said that cash transfer to below poverty line (BPL) families was one such topic.