This is for the first time ever that the annual plan size for a state is being finalised in the absence of both the Planning Commission deputy chairman and the chief minister of the state. That too for a politically significant state like Uttar Pradesh.
The Plan outlay for the state has been finalised on Tuesday but the meeting was attended by Planning Commission member BK Chaturvedi while the state was represented by chief secretary P K Mishra and a host of its officials. Usually a plan meeting is held between the Commission?s deputy chairman along with all the members of the Commission and state CM and the officials.
The Commission’s deputy chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia is on a visit to the US and chief minister Mayawati preferred to stay back in UP.
It may be mentioned here that it is almost five months now that the Mayawati government is in power in UP and despite repeated requests from the Commission, Mayawati refused to come down and discuss the Plan size for 2007-08 with Ahluwalia.
The deputy chairman had personally written to Mayawati at least thrice but in vain. She simply decided not to come down. It is learnt that she had said that she would speak to none less than the Prime Minister himself.
According to sources in the Commission, this ego clash might prove costly for the economic well being of the state as the absence of Ahluwalia would deprive the state of the 5% discretionary fund,additional central assistance (ACD) which is given solely by the deputy chairman under his sole discretion to decide if any special project of the state requires the fund.
However, the Plan outlay for the current fiscal for the state has been pegged at Rs 25,000 crore which is an increase of 31% against last fiscal’s (2006-07) Rs 19,000 crore.
Sources said that another meeting would be held between the Commission and the state some time in December to decide on the ACA.