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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, NOV 18: Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K C pant on Thursday said there is likely to be a shortfall in plan resources of both the Centre and states over the next two years of the Ninth Plan.
Addressing the Economic Editors8217; Conference here, Pant refused to specify the quantum of the shortfall. He, however, said the targets will be met.
Pant was assisted in his replies by Planning Commission member Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other senior officials of the commission.
Answering a query on the Centre8217;s move to get the states to sign MOUs for transitory fiscal disciplining, Pant said the states need to put their House in order. Pant agreed that plan resources were being diverted to non-plan expenses.
In this contact, he said the Centre will initiate fiscal discipline in its own ministries too on issue such as unbridled recruitment and high administrative expenses.
On hiking user charges, Pant said hard decisions need to be taken. He said these decisions do hit certain vulnerablesections.
Pant was asked to comment on a remark that in the case of North East 90 per cent of the resources which were intended to be a grant were mis-utilised if not misappropriated on this, he said, the Planing Commission was seized of the matter which was a serious issue8217;.
To a question on whether the Centre has agreed to allow NTPC to buy NHPC and whether the Planning Commission8217;s views had been sought on this, Pant replied the Planning Commission8217;s view will be sought when a cabinet note is prepared on the subject. He, however, said he has been informally consulted by various people on the subject.
