By IANS
New Delhi : The Planning Commission Wednesday approved a plan outlay of Rs.15 billion for Meghalaya for 2008-09 following a meeting between the plan panel’s Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Donkupar Roy.
After the meeting, Ahluwalia told reporters the state was showing a healthy trend of economic development and efforts should be made to accelerate development of infrastructure specially power and road connectivity.
“All possible efforts should be made to encourage private sector participation in the development of physical and social infrastructure. Meghalaya needs higher level of growth targets to catch up with the rest of the country,” he said.
Ahluwalia said the plan panel was keen to improve the implementation of the central initiatives aimed at making the process of development more inclusive and was willing to consider requests from the state for relaxing guidelines.
Roy said infrastructure constraints, particularly power shortage, were the main reason for the slow-down during the 10th Plan period (2002-07).
“To achieve a growth target of 7.3 percent for the 11th Plan, the state needs to accelerate development of infrastructure, especially power and road connectivity. Major investments will be made in the social sector during this period for which nearly 38 percent of outlay will be earmarked,” Roy said.