PMO-UP meet this week to discuss CM's demands

Akhilesh Yadav wants more central funds for Uttar Pradesh

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will hold meetings with senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government this week to discuss Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s demand for more central funds, sources said. The meetings will be chaired by Pulok Chatterji, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, and attended by senior finance ministry officials, sources added.

Yadav will also be in New Delhi during the week to attend the National Development Council (NDC) meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to approve the 12th Plan document. He will be accompanied by top officials, including Vice-Chairman of the UP Planning Commission N C Bajpai and Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani.

Sources in the chief secretary’s office have confirmed Usmani will be in New Delhi for two days beginning Thursday.

On Friday, he is likely to meet Chatterji over “pending issues pertaining to the various letters (30-40 of them) sent by the chief minister to the PMO. It could also include issues related to the annual/Five- Year Plan,” sources said.

In his meeting with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on July 18, Yadav had secured Rs 77,800 crore central allocation for 2012-13.

While Rs 57,800 crore pertained to 2012-13 state’s annual plan (including one time grant of Rs 800 crore for the Allahabad Kumbh), Rs 20,000 crore was for centrally sponsored schemes. The state plan for 2011-12 was Rs 47,000 crore.

Former chief minister Mayawati had never attended any Planning Commission meeting during her stint.

Under the state annual plan, Rs 4,699 crore had been allotted for agriculture and related services, Rs 5,924 crore for power, Rs 5,035 crore for irrigation, Rs 4,194 for transport, Rs 7,419 crore for education, Rs 2,394 crore for public health, Rs 1,428 crore for water supply and sanitation, and Rs 6,547 crore for housing and urban development.

While schemes related to social security were given Rs 7,438 crore, funds worth Rs 11,922 crore was allotted to other schemes.

UP is targeting 10 per cent yearly growth during the 12th Plan, including industrial growth of 11.2 per cent, services growth of 11.9 per cent and agricultural growth of five per cent.