India: Singh calls for $1 trillion in infrastructure investments "at any cost"

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told his newly inducted cabinet that the government's target of $1 trillion investments in infrastructure over the next five years “must be met at any cost" -- implying that neither concerns about corruption or the environment should be allowed to slow the Indian juggernaut any longer.“Infrastructure is at the top of our agenda and will require particular attention and effort at multiple levels across the government,” Singh said in opening remarks before the first meeting of his entire council of ministers since the United Progressive Alliance coalition returned to power in the 2009 elections.The prime minister listed fuel supply arrangements, security and environmental clearances and financing difficulties among the constraints slowing India's infrastructure investments, the paper said. Meanwhile, the growing gap between demand and supply of energy has emerged as a major roadblock to development.

“As a result, our growth has decelerated, our exports have fallen and our fiscal deficits are expanding,” Singh said.