The irrigation sector, which was mired in corruption charges during the previous Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance rule, has been given prominence by the present establishment to make agriculture sustainable.
Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has kept his promise to allocate funds in the range of Rs 7,500 crore and Rs 8,233 crore between 2014-15 and 2018-19. The irrigation sector, which was mired in corruption charges during the previous Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance rule, has been given prominence by the present establishment to make agriculture sustainable.
The government, however, struggles to complete long-pending 250-plus irrigation projects entailing an investment of Rs 53,000 crore. Mungantiwar said the funds are being tied up with the Centre and also from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to expedite completion of these projects. About 50 projects will be completed in 2018-19 from the list of incomplete projects.
The government has proposed an allocation of Rs 3,115 crore in 2018-19 for 26 irrigation projects which are being undertaken under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana. Mungantiwar said the government proposes to bring 2.26 lakh hectare of land under irrigation and 853 million cubic metre of storage.
Jalyukta Shivar, which is Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' brainchild, has been allotted Rs 1,500 crore in 2018-19. The government hopes that it would meet the target of making 5,000 villages scarcity free every year under this scheme. However, experts argue that the scheme should not get caught into procedural roadblocks.
Against the backdrop of deaths of farm labourers after inhaling poisonous pesticides and insecticides, the government proposes to promote organic agriculture. This, the government hopes, will provide an alternative to overcome the deteriorating fertility of solid and health hazards created by chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
CM’s scheme
- The state hopes that it would meet the target of making 5,000 villages scarcity free every year under Jalyukta Shivar scheme. Experts say it might get caught in procedural roadblocks.
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