Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pitches for National Development and Reforms Commission

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today called for replacement of Planning Commission with a National Development and Reforms Commission to achieve "Sabka Vikas Sabka Saath" motto of the ruling NDA government at the centre.

Fadnavis, among chief ministers of various states in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today, called for replacing the Planning Commission by new National Development and Reforms Commission, an official in Chief Minister's office said.

"The (new Commission) should also meet at regional level every three months, headed by PM and CMs (Western, Southern, Northern, eastern, North-East regions). This should be about problem solving, taking up regional issues like central laws like coastal regulations, eco-sensitive zones; which come in way of economic growth and employment creation," the official quoted the Chief Minister as saying.

As Mumbai being the financial capital of India, Fadnavis requested the Prime Minister to head an empowered group to make Mumbai a global commercial hub.

"The Group should meet every six months for ensuring that central ministries like ports, airports, railways and state agencies like MCGM, MMRDA, Power collaborate in infrastructure like coastal road, trans harbour link, metro to make Mumbai a world class city by 2019," the official said.

Fadnavis also called upon the Prime Minister to provide greater drought relief as per package submitted to Centre and asked for higher and remunerative prices for cotton and sugar crops.