Simplify norms for investments in irrigation, Harish tells Centre

New Delhi: Telangana State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao on Wednesday sought the removal of certain norms under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act 2003 to facilitate easier investments in the country’s irrigation projects as the demonetisation process had affected fund flow through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The FRBM Act seeks to institutionalize financial discipline, reduce India's fiscal deficit, and improve macroeconomic management and the overall management of the public funds by moving towards a balanced budget.

Harish Rao, a member of the sub-committee on Prime Minister's Krishi Sinchayee Yojana which oversees the completion of 99 pending projects in the country, said here that the targets were not being met by any State Government despite land acquisition and investments. The promised irrigation facility for the tail-end areas was not being met, he said.

Talking to media persons after attending the meeting, Harish said that the Cabinet Committee had recommended a new scheme involving an outlay of Rs 45,000 crore to exploit 100 per cent of the irrigation potential of projects already completed. This scheme would be implemented in 185 projects in the country to help boost the potential of the projects to the projected or estimated levels.

All States completing projects that yield water facility to the additional ayacut areas would receive additional incentives, he said. Harish Rao said that he met officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and sought Krishna Vigyan Kendras for all the 31 districts in Telangana. The Centre should also help in the procurement of onions in the State, he urged.