SHILLONG, Dec 20 ? Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang today said the state was following the guidelines and directives of the Planning Commission since it did not frame a ?consolidated? economic policy of its own. Although there was no economic policy framed by the state, the ?guidelines and directives? of the Planning Commission in respect of sectoral allocation were being followed and quarterly reports, review meetings held to prepare utilisation certificiates to pursue the economic goal, Lapang said in the assembly during question hour.
The Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC), formed recently with Lapang as the Chairman and RG Lyngdoh as co-chairman, has been helping the state by offering suggestions about economic policy, he said. Replying to NCP?s Edmund K Sangma, Lapang said the objective for constituting the MEDC was to promote the economic and industrial development of the state.
Its powers and functions were to advise the state government on issues relating to industrial policies, deliberate and examine the constraints inhabiting flow of investment, identify sectors where overall economic industrial growth can be accelerated and suggest ways for attracting investments, domestic and foreign.
When the Chief Minister said the MEDC was formed with members from all political parties, BJP member AL Hek said as the head of the party?s state unit he did not receive any formal invitation from the government to join it. To it, Lapang said in the run-up to the formation of MEDC, he had contacted another BJP MLA J Phanbhuh since Hek was not in station. Lapang, however, apologised and said he would send letters to all political parties for being council members.