Summary:
Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Tuesday the government has set aside Rs 12,597 crore for the irrigation sector and plans to use Rs 350 crore to promote micro irrigation. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the government plans to complete 26 incomplete and long-pending irrigation projects which entail an investment of Rs 22,398 crore. As far as drought relief measures are concerned, Mungantiwar said Maharashtra has received Rs 4,249 crore from the Centre. To promote research in four agricultural universities, the government has proposed an allocation of Rs 600 crore. This apart, under the Atal Arthsahay Yojana, Rs 500 crore will be made available to provide financial assistance to agricultural, non-agricultural innovative projects, and agro-based projects from various cooperative institutions..