Gehlot: Nothing for poll-bound Rajasthan

Chief minister says no mention of national status for Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented the Union Budget, made no specific announcement for Rajasthan, which is going to the state assembly election in December this year.

Announcements have been made for sectors including tourism, MSMEs, artisans, and green energy, in which Rajasthan has the potential to get a major boost, the budget has no mention of the national status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).

The `37,000 crore project was initiated when Vasundhara Raje was the chief minister before the Ashok Gehlot formed the government in 2018 and was cleared in principle by the Central Water Board. The Congress Government took it forward and made a financial provision of `9,500 crore in its last budget, but demanded a national status looking at the project cost.

The issue took a political turn when Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who is from Rajasthan, became the Union Jal Shakti Minister.

The project assumes importance as the irrigation and drinking water needs of 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan will be fulfilled. The grand old party is targeting the central minister and the BJP for not getting it cleared despite being in power.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said an announcement was expected on the ERCP. The budget has disappointed the Rajasthanis. He accused the Centre of meting out a step-motherly treatment, saying, “The provision of additional assistance of `5,300 crore to Karnataka for the Upper Bhadra Project, keeping the election in mind, shows the step-motherly treatment of the Modi Government towards Rajasthan.”

“Rajasthan will give a befitting reply to this step-motherly treatment at the right time (in elections),” Gehlot added.