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8% growth in 10th Plan possible, says Pant

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K C Pant said today the 8 per cent GDP growth target set for 10th Plan period can be achieved only through hard decisions and well-coordinated reform policies between the Centre and states coupled with effective use of resources and better governance.

''I have not tried to ignore the fiscal situation of the Centre. I am not trying to sweep anything under the carpet. In fact some of the states have already said they want to do more towards reforms for achieving the target," Pant told reporters, adding the average annual growth rate of 8 per cent during the 10th Plan period was not unfeasible.

Pant said there was a broad agreement on the approach paper of the Plan amongst all the states and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to hold a meeting with the state chief ministers to discuss various facets of reforms including the labour and power sector reforms was aimed at bringing out greater consensus.

Pant said that the Planning Commission has not restricted itself to technical aspects of generation of funds but was looking at far greater efficient use of resources and better governance to achieve the growth target

The Planning Commission deputy chairman said that Centre was in agreement with the states to transfer some centrally sponsored schemes to state to meet their specifications.

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