Rs 10,000 cr to be spent to improve irrigation potential in Vidarb

Mumbai, July 2 (UNI) Mahrashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said improving the irrigation potential in the Vidarbha region which is hit by an agrarian crisis was the priority focus of his government and Rs 10,000 crore would be spent to complete the pending irrigation projects.

Addressing a conference at the Sahaydri guest house on the eve of the three-week monsoon session of the state legislature, Mr Deshmukh said the Centre has already committed to partake 30 per cent (Rs 2177 crore) in form of the package announced by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

''The state government will raise 70 per cent of the funds through open market borrowing, to complete irrigation projects and enhance the irrigation potential. The Planning Commission has already given permission and relaxed certain norms as a special case,'' he added.

Referring to the criticism of the opposition that there was nothing new in the Prime Minister's package, Mr Deshmukh said what the PM had announced in Nagpur yesterday was ''over and above'' the already sanctioned funds under various schemes.

''Besides, the Prime Minister made specific announcements for the benefit of the farmers and not to satisfy the opposition,'' he said.

Mr Deshmukh slammed the Shiv Sena-BJP for making casual and baseless remarks about the Prime Minister's visit to Vidarbha to take a first hand report of the situation regarding farmers' suicides.

''It has become customary for them to boycott the session eve tea party. PWP leader Ganpatrao Deshmukh and Narsayya Adam of CPM were present at the party and so it was not an opposition boycott, but only that of Shiv Sena-BJP,'' Mr Deshmukh said.

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