PM announces sops for Uttaranchal

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced special incentives for Uttaranchal, including a Rs 100-crore grant for the Kumbh mela, and expansion of the Delhi-Dehradun national highway.

Expressing hope that the economy would grow at 9-10 per cent in the next five years, Singh added: "Our aim is 9-10 per cent annual growth rate in the next 5 years." The prime minister was laying the foundation stone for Hero Honda's motorcycle manufacturing plant.

Singh's comments came a day after he chaired a full meeting of the Planning Commission yesterday in New Delhi and set a 10 per cent economic growth target by the end of the 11th Plan. He had stated that it was the first time the country was aiming at a double digit growth rate.

Announcing a slew of new sops for Uttaranchal where assembly elections are due early next year, Singh said Rs 100 crore would be provided to the state government for the development of Haridwar in view of the coming Kumbh Mela.

Saying that the Centre would give top priority to the development of Uttaranchal and other Himalayan regions, he added that there would be six-laning of the Delhi-Haridwar national highway. He also lauded the development policies of the N D Tiwari government.

Singh, who mostly devoted his speech in commending the UPA government's policies, said his government had put in place various policies in such a way that 8 per cent growth was within reach.

He said the economy would continue to grow provided state governments also contributed in the overall development. "We want all the state governments to contribute their maximum in the overall development of the country," Singh said.

He further said the priority of his government would be on agriculture and social sectors.