Planning Commission stresses on doubling agri growth

KOLKATA: The Planning Commission in its draft approach paper to the 11th five year plan would stress on doubling agricultural growth and bridging regional imbalances among other things.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who was here for consultation on the draft approach paper for the 11th five year plan, said that the growth target would be fixed by the full Commission after taking into consideration views put forwarded by different states.

He said that areas which were targeted were doubling up agricultural growth and removing hurdles that were causing rural distress.

Regarding the manufacturing sector, he said, it was poised to register double-digit growth. Infrastructure was an important issue. Bridging regional imbalances has also been dealt with in the paper, he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Jharkhand Finance minister Raghubar Das were also present in the meeting.