Planning Commission recommends Rs 10,000 crore The Planning Commission today recommended the annual plan size of the National Capital Territory of Delhi at Rs 10,000 crore, a whopping Rs. 1000 crore more than the existing plan, and asked the Sheila Dikshit government to give an increased impetus to the Yamuna clean-up action plan. "We have recommended a plan size for 2008-09 at Rs 10,000 crore, which is Rs 1,000 crore more than its existing plan, and Delhi should be able to utilise it', Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said after a meeting with Dikshit and her senior cabinet colleagues here. He said the state government would have to stress more on sewerage improvement and enter into long-term power purchase agreements, accelerate the pace of infrastructure development and increase thrust on social sectors. The commission while lauding the state government for facilitating metro rail projects asked it to plug water leakages, ease traffic congestion and encourage paid parking lots besides exploring the possibility of having public-private partnerships in drinking water supply schemes. The plan panel also asked the government of NCT of Delhi to contain the transmission and distribution losses in the power sector and utilise the coming Commonwealth Games as an opportunity to develop the National Capital Territory. It said the national capital should become the only city with 100 per cent sewerage facility. It was apparent that a lot of stress was being laid on strengthening the basic infrastructure before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The NCT government has conveyed to the Commission that it would be self-sufficient in power by 2010. In the transport sector, the state would induct 5,000 additional low-floor CNG buses. It also informed the Planning Commission during the meeting that the Electricity Consumer Committee had been constituted to protect the interests of the consumers, while plans were being finalized to set up a Delhi Hawkers and Vendors Commission. The state government was planning not to issue ration cards for those households having an income of more than Rs 1,00,000 annually from April 1, this year and was contemplating issuing Social Welfare Entitlement cards for those availing foodgrains through the public distribution system. It also informed the Planning Commission that it was planning to start Eastern Peripheral Expressway by 2010 and the western one by 2013. The state was also initiating steps to ensure rain water harvesting facilities in all schools before the advent of the monsoon season. Besides, the state government was also finalising plans to give pensions to eminent writers.