Demand for Central funds, fair distribution of river water dominates NITI Aayog meet chaired by PM Modi

New Delhi: Demand for a higher share and timely release of funds from the Centre to the states and the fair distribution of river water dominated the 10th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Four states — Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar — and the Union Territory of Puducherry skipped the meeting that is held annually to deliberate on development challenges facing the country.

Addressing the meeting, Modi asked states to work towards achieving the developed India vision.

To address the challenges of water scarcity and floods, Modi suggested states to work for interlinking of rivers. He appreciated Bihar which recently started the Kosi-Mochi connection grid, according to an official statement released after the closed-door meeting.

Briefing the media, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said during the meeting Modi asked states to create an investment-friendly atmosphere by removing obsolete regulations.

“States are fundamental in industrial development, services, agriculture, and human capital. Without individual state visions, it's like a bullock cart with only one bull – it won't run,” Subrahmanyam said, quoting the PM’s intervention at the meeting.

Chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand and Punjab complained about step-motherly treatment in allocation of central funds.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin pitched for increasing states’ share in the divisible pool of the central taxes to 50 per cent from the current 41 per cent.

“It is not ideal in a cooperative federal structure that states should constantly have to fight, argue and approach courts to receive their rightful share of funds,” said Stalin.

The Tamil Nadu CM said persistent issues in devolution of central funds not only affects growth of individual states but also the country as a whole.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy proposed the formation of a national task force to lead the development of the six major metropolitan cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Reddy proposed that the task force should comprise chief ministers of the respective states and be chaired by the prime minister. “This task force must focus on comprehensive urban development, infrastructure investment and governance reforms specific to these metros," Reddy said.

To address the challenges of water scarcity and floods, Modi suggests interlinking of rivers PM asks states to create investment-friendly atmosphere by removing obsolete regulations CMs of TN, Telangana, Jharkhand and Punjab complain about step-motherly treatment in allocation of central funds Tamil Nadu CM Stalin pitches for increasing states’ share in central taxes to 50 per cent from the current 41 per cent Telangana CM proposes national task force to lead the development of the six major metropolitan cities

"States are fundamental in industrial development services agriculture and human capital. Without individual state visions it's like a bullock cart with only one bull – it won't run," says BVR Subrahmanyam NITI Aayog CEO

CM lays out 1000-day roadmap Achieving 100 per cent piped water coverage and establishing Karnataka as South Asia's Electric Vehicle capital are among targets Karnataka wants to meet in the next 1000 days Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the NITI Aayog on Saturday. 

Mann rakes up water issue Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday brought Punjab's 'water war' with Haryana to the NITI Aayog Governing Council saying Punjab has no surplus water to share and if Haryana has claim over the water in Ravi and Beas rivers then his state should have an equal claim on Yamuna.