Patna, (Bihar Times): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made a number of demands for his home state, Bihar, at the meeting of the Full Planning Commission on Thursday called to approve the 11th Five-Year Plan. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,

Lalu demanded setting up of an IIT and IIM in the state and at least one polytechnic institute in each district. Besides, he sought Central University status for the Patna University. He also asked the Planning Commission to include Siwan in the list of backward districts of the state. Of the 37 districts Siwan is the only one not to be included in the category of backward.

Railway minister sought special grant of Rs 1,000 crore to Bihar under the Backward Region Grant Fund be doubled to Rs 2,000 crore. He also stressed the need to evolve a long-term plan to deal with flood control in the state. He urged that irrigation, flood-control and road construction get special attention during the current Five-Year Plan, which estimates a plan size worth Rs 60,000 crore for Bihar.

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