From mega-project for water storage to full statehood, here is everything that CM Arvind Kejriwal said at the NITI Aayog meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the fifth meeting of the Niti Aayog's Governing Council which focused on issues like the drought situation, farm distress, rain-water harvesting and preparedness for Kharif crops.

At the meeting, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal elaborated on various issues, asking Centre for their backing.

Here is everything he listed: 

• He said that the AAP government in Delhi wants Centre's cooperation in its mega-project for natural storage of water in the Yamuna flood plains. He said that the significant studies done in the field indicate that water storage during a single monsoon will suffice to end the water shortage in Delhi. 
• He added that Delhi does not get its share in central taxes. He said that according to the 14th Finance Commission, states get 42% share in central taxes, whereas Delhi gets Rs 325 crores. 
• He reiterated the demand for full statehood for Delhi.

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The planning body laid down five crucial agendas that were essentially discussed in the meeting

Rain-water harvesting

The governing council will deliberate ways to encourage the conservation of water through rainwater harvesting. 

The agenda will aim to discuss means that will ensure piped water supply to every rural household by 2024 through integrated water resources management, including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and grey wastewater reuse. The focus will also be on steps taken by the Centre to encourage rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, good practices of rainwater harvesting, and way forward.

Drought situation and relief measures to solve the crisis

The governing council will take up the agenda to discuss the level of economic, environmental, and social impacts the drought has on the country and possible relief measures that could be provided. 

Aspirational Districts program

The third agenda of the meeting will focus on the Aspirational Districts programme that was launched in January 2018. The agenda aims to address the achievements and challenges of the scheme, pertaining to transformation in health, nutrition, education, agriculture, water resource management, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure.

Reforms to transform agriculture

The fourth agenda for the meeting will focus on making reforms to transform agriculture with special emphasis on Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act and Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The focus will be given to ways for achieving high productivity, reducing the cost of cultivation and ensuring remunerative price on the produce. The discussion on the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, will focus on its need in the current scenario along with needed reforms and amendments in the Act. 

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Security-related issues with a specific focus on the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas:

The final agenda of the meeting aims to take up the security-related issues with a specific focus on the Naxalites.

The meeting will focus on the internal security of the country with special attention given to conflict-prone areas where left-wing extremism is largely in operation.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Andhra Pradesh's new Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, A BJP ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh skipped the meeting. 

(With PTI inputs)