BJP-ruled states get half of total fund to boost irrigation

The changing monsoon pattern and less rain in recent years have lead to dry spells. To address the problem, the Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Ministry has allocated Rs 410 crore to 20 states to minimise the impact of drought and improve groundwater recharge.

Among the states that have been allocated the funds, BJP-ruled Rajasthan stands at the top. Rs 69 crore has been allocated to the state to improve irrigation facilities, while Tamil Nadu has bagged the second slot with a total allocation of Rs 64.42 crore, followed by Punjab with Rs 46.36 crore.

Interestingly, half of the total allocation (Rs 203.03 crore) has been distributed among eight BJP-ruled states -- Rajasthan (Rs 69 crore), Punjab (Rs 46.36 crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 22.65 crore), Haryana (Rs 21.21 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 20.87 crore), Jharkhand (Rs 17.32 crore), Gujarat (Rs 5.48 crore) and Chhattisgarh (Rs 0.14 crore).

While, among the <g data-gr-id="15">non</g>-BJP ruled states Tamil Nadu has got the maximum allocation, followed by Karnataka at Rs 40.96 crore. The poll-bound Bihar has got a reasonable amount of Rs 17.20 crore, while Uttar Pradesh, another key state, has been allocated Rs 26.06 crore for augmenting its irrigation facilities.

The allocation has been made under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), after identifying vulnerable areas that require immediate attention for water conservation, harvesting and groundwater recharge.