No irrigation data in Maha economic survey gives rise to speculation of BJP, NCP understanding

Mumbai: While the BJP had attacked the NCP before the Maharashtra assembly elections over the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam, the state government, led by the party, has not given any data on irrigation in its state economic survey report 2014-15, tabled in both the houses of legislature on Tuesday. However, this is not the first time the Maharashtra government has omitted data on irrigation in its survey report. The previous Congress-NCP government too had not mentioned irrigation in their survey since 2012, when the scam came to light. [caption id=“attachment_2158917” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Raman Kirpal/Firstpost[/caption] When the Congress-NCP was in power, the BJP had made a huge hue and cry over the government not providing data on irrigation, and had alleged that the Congress and NCP were deliberately hiding information. Now that the BJP government — which had campaign against the previous government over the irrigation scam — too has omitted the data, political circles are abuzz with speculation that there is an understanding between the BJP and the NCP. While the Devendra Fadnavis-led government has given the nod for an open inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against senior NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Tatkare in the alleged 70,000 crore irrigation scam, observers say that the political equations have changed drastically in the state in the months after the assembly elections’ fractured mandate and it may impact the probe against senior NCP leaders. Moreover, the report says that because of severely deficient rainfall and other natural calamities Maharashtra is staring at an unprecedented decrease of around 31 percent in the production of food grains for the year 2014-15. The state’s poor performance in agriculture sector is not limited to food grains that include kharif, rabbi and summer crops, but also extend to oilseeds and cotton. According to the report, in both these categories, the state is expected to suffer a massive decrease in production of 53 percent and 25 percent respectively. “It is mainly due to severely deficient rainfall received during sowing period and vegetative growth state of kharif crops in all parts of the state,” said the report. The state had suffered drought in major parts of Maharashtra in 2013 and 2014, which is said to be the main reason behind the decrease in the production in agricultural sector. Apart from drought, unseasonal rains and hailstorms have also left a negative impact on agricultural production. The report further says that the state public debt is estimated at Rs 3,00,477 crore for 2014-15 compared to Rs 2,71,845 of 2013-14, which is a rise of 10 percent. The public debt is increasing annually with average rate of 10.6 percent. It is expected to reach Rs 3,00,477 crore which is 17.8 percent of GSDP, well within the limit of 24.3 percent set by the 13th Financial Commission recommendation, says the report.