P C to emphasise more on infrastructure in North East, Ahluwalia

Shillong, July 8 (UNI) The Planning Commission will lay emphasis on infrastructure for development of Northeast including Sikkim in 11th Five-Year-Plan, according to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Briefing reporters after the regional consultations on the draft approach paper to the 11th Five-year-plan with Chief Ministers of North Eastern states, Mr Ahluwalia said the Planning Commission will decide to include a special Chapter on the five year Plan document for Northeast as demanded by the Chief Ministers.

''They wanted a separate chapter to get more attention and increased the economic growth at par with the other states'', he said.

Informing that Air and Land connectivity will be listed on the top priority for the region, Mr Alhuwalia said air connectivity will be made operational in all the states to provide faster infrastructure.

''We will put all efforts to fill the gap where connectivity is needed, be it railways or airways to reduce the connectivity gap with the other states in the Country'', he said.

He said the Planning Commission would stress on quality higher education by setting up IITs and other premier educational institutions that create employment generation. Agriculture, Hydro-Power and other sectors are the other thrust areas which the Commission will include in the Plan document to boost the economy, he asserted.

Pointing out that the cross border trade in the region was still un-utilised, the Deputy Chairman said he had asked the Chief Ministers to submit a detailed report on this matter, which will be taken up with the respective neighbouring countries.

Besides, he said, the Planning Commission has assured the Chief Ministers to incorporate the ''Look East Policy'' in the Plan document for promotion of trade and commerce with South East Asia and other neighbouring countries.

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