Planning Commission for ''comprehensive energy policy''

Lucknow, Oct 27 (UNI) To address the growing energy requirements in the country, the Planning Commission is mulling over a ''comprehensive energy policy'' in the 11th Five Year Plan.

Talking to UNI here, Planning Commission Member Prof V L Chopra said the new energy policy would entail the pool of all the energy sources viz fossil fuel, atomic energy, biofuel, besides new energy sources.

''The issue of energy requirement has to be taken holistically rather than on a piece-meal basis in wake of the growing economy and industrialisation,'' Prof Chopra maintained.

Prof Chopra further informed that the draft of the 'Approach Paper' of 11th Five Year Plan had largely been approved and it would soon be presented before the National Development Council.

The Planning Commission has asked for a ''substantial increase'' in plan outlay for the 11th Plan, he informed.

''There are a number of ambitious developmental projects underway at the national level such as Bharat Nirman and midday-meal scheme, which require massive and long-term expenditure. Several of these projects have also been mandated in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the central government,'' he added.

The Planning Commission member maintained that the prime focus in the 'Approach Paper' is on sustaining a growth rate of 9 per cent or above in the 11th Plan.

''Presently, the Indian economy is growing roughly at 8 per cent, which we want to increase by at least one per cent, so that the average by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan floats above the floor of 9 per cent,'' he pointed out.

Prof Chopra was in Lucknow as chief guest at the 3rd National Interactive Meet (NIM 2006) organised by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP).

Earlier, he delivered the presidential address on 'Food, income and health for all through strategic agriculture'.

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