Maharashtra government may allocate more funds for agriculture, irrigation and infrastructure in 2018-19 budget

In a serious bid to counter growing disenchantment especially in the farming community and rural population, the Maharashtra government is all set to provide higher fund allocation to agriculture, cooperation, marketing, roads, skill development in the annual budget for 2018-19. State finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will present the annual budget on March 9. State's annual scheme for 2018-19 will be in excess of Rs 80,000 crore compared to Rs 77,184 crore in 2017-18.

The government, which is currently struggling to implement the much ambitious crop waiver scheme to cover 53 lakh farmers, may allocate Rs 8,000 crore alone for the same. So far, the state government has transferred Rs 12,381 crore into bank accounts of more than 31 lakh farmers under the farm loan waiver scheme. The government has claimed that it could weed out ghost accounts which has saved Rs 9,000 crore. However, the pace of implementation of crop loan waiver has been attacked due to technological glitches and procedural delays.

The government, which is under attack for rising farmers suicides, may allocate over Rs 2,000 crore for agriculture sector compared to Rs 1,441.12 crore in 2017-18, Rs 250 crore for marketing (Rs 221 crore), Rs 250 crore for textile (Rs 232 crore). This apart, the government may allocate Rs 8,500 crore for roads (Rs 7,000 crore) especially when it has put on fast track the implementation of Mumbai Nagpur Super Communication Express way and laid emphasis on further increasing the road network across the state.

The government will allocate Rs 8,200 crore for the irrigation sector especially when it has launched a time bound plan to complete more than 258 long pending projects. The government has already lined up Rs 12,773 crore loan from the National Bank Agriculture and Rural Development.

Furthermore, the government may allocate Rs 7,000 crore to urban development compared to Rs 5,000 crore last year in order to give push for slew of transport infrastructure projects including Metro rail, Mono rail, sea link.
As far as skill development and entrepreneurship is concerned, the government may double the allocation to Rs 300 crore compared to Rs 150 crore last year.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

• The government may allocate Rs 7,000 crore to urban development compared to Rs 5,000 crore last year in order to give push for slew of transport infrastructure projects including Metro rail, Mono rail, sea link
   
• Allocation for skill development and entrepreneurship may be doubled to Rs 300 crore from Rs 150 crore