Montek reveals 5-point agenda for NDC

Planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia set out a five-point agenda for the National Development Council (NDC) meet to be held tomorrow.

The NDC will discuss issues raised in the mid-term appraisal (MTA) of the 11th Plan Period (2007-12) with particular emphasis on five sectors — agriculture, power reforms, water management, urbanisation and tribal development (Naxalism).

“A supplementary agenda note has been circulated and a more focused approach would be adopted in these five critical areas,” said Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, adding the note had been prepared on the direction of the Prime Minister.

The Prime minister had met the Planning Commission last month and had specifically asked for the inclusion of management of water resources and tribal development in the NDC agenda.

These issues would be discussed in the NDC for the first time. The issue of tribal development, particularly, has gained prominence given the recent Naxalite disturbances in some of the tribal areas.

The Commission is also working on an integrated action plan for Naxalite-infested tribal areas which is expected to cost around Rs 13,700 crore.

Ahluwalia said to deal with the Naxalite problem, the plan panel would make a strong case for bridging “development deficit” in the tribal areas.

The NDC, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has other top policy makers including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Home Affairs P Chidambaram, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, members of the plan panel and state chief ministers.

Ahluwalia said there was a need for an integrated water policy because GDP is water-intensive.

“We have been consistently holding that the policy of giving free power to farmers is not the best way of helping them.” He also suggested a cess could be considered on power to prevent overdraw of water in areas where the water table has depleted. The money collected, he added, can be used for creating infrastructure to recharge the water tables.

Most chief ministers, according to sources, have confirmed their participation. However, Mayawati, K Karunanidhi and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, are yet to confirm.