What CM wants: ₹3,000-cr aid, ₹72,750-cr for water plan
MEET WITH NITI AAYOG Raje demands funds citing loans inherited from previous govt
Chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday asked for support from the NITI Aayog for the allocation of funds from the Green Climate Fund of the Union ministry of environment along with financial assistance of ₹ 3,000 crore from the Centre.
She also sought a special annual grant of ₹7,275 crore for 10 years for providing clean drinking water to 7.5 crore people of Rajasthan under Mukhyamantri Jal Swawlamban Yojana (MJSY).
Addressing the members and officials of Niti Aayog during a programme --Development Dialogue with NITI Aayog--at her office, she highlighted the state government’s achievements.
The MJSY is an ambitious scheme that will secure Rajasthan’s future, she said.
In the first two phases of MJSY, rainwater harvesting structures were constructed in 7,700 villages and more than 70 towns in the state.
The structures have resulted in increasing the underground water-table and green covers, she said.
“In third and fourth phases of the campaign, watershed structures will be created in more than 6,000 villages across state and we need Niti Aayog’s intervention for the central assistance worth ₹ 3,000 crore, as well as support from the Union environment ministry from its ‘Green Climate Fund’.”
Raje reiterated her commitment of the state’s participation in the national development agenda being prepared by the Niti Aayog.
She said for the long term and sustainable development, the state government will focus more on development of identified areas in collaboration with the Centre.
“The state will go ahead with the guidance of the Aayog in the formulation and implementa- tion of the schemes for the permanent settlement of the problems inherited from the previous government.”
With the involvement of the Aayog in the service delivery system, improving the administration system and better coordination, she said.
“We will develop Rajasthan progressively and will set an example for other states.”
Underling the need for reforms in the agriculture sector for long-term goal of nutrition security, climate resilience in agriculture production systems, Raje asked for dedicated funds from the Union agriculture ministry for implementing the reforms.
Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, who was present at the meeting,praised the Rajasthan government for initiating various reform measures, including ‘ease of doing business’ policy.
The amendments in labour laws, land on lease permission for solar energy, rent act in urban development, toilet construction work under Swachh Bharat Mission and MJSY, are some of the remarkable reforms in last three years, he said.