Bihar not utilising central funds for agri development: Union Minister

Motihari, Mar 28: Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh today charged Bihar government with failing to fully utilise funds allocated to it by the Centre to boost agriculture, which he said does not even figure in the state government's '7-point agenda' of development.

The Centre has doubled its allocation to Bihar for development of agriculture, but the Nitish Kumar government has not utilised the funds due to its insensitivity towards the farmers, the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister told reporters here.

The Grand Alliance government has also failed to take advantage of various central schemes for development of farm sector much to the chagrin of the farmers of the state, Singh said.

Hitting out at the chief minister, Singh, MP from Purvi Champaran, said the Bihar government does not even have agriculture sector in the seven resolves (saat nischay) of its priority areas of governance.

Stating that Bihar has unlimited potential for growth in farm sector, Singh said the Centre has launched various schemes for development of agriculture in the eastern states, which must draw optimum advantage from such programmes.

The Bihar government must work in tandem with the Centre for development of agriculture sector in the state, he said.

PTI