Budget allocation for flood control measures up by 44.48%

Underlying the significance of flood control measures in wake of the havoc created by Kosi river in North Bihar last year, the government today effected a 44.48 per cent increase in budgetary allocations for flood control measures in the Union Budget.

The Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, allocated Rs 210.75 for flood control for the current fiscal, a 44.48 per cent increase from last fiscal's allocation of Rs 145.90 crore.

The significant increase in allocation for flood control is in stark contrast to only 13.97 per cent increase in overall budgetary allocation of the Water Resources Ministry.

The total budgetary allocation for the ministry for 2008-09 was Rs 880 crore. While for the current fiscal, the allocation is Rs 1,003 crore, an increase of only 13.97 per cent over the previous year.

In fact other important heads in the ministry like Major and Medium Irrigation have witnessed an increase of 17.62 per cent in budgetary allocation.

The allocation for this head was Rs 339.37 crore in 2008-09, while it is Rs 399.2 crore for the current fiscal, an increase of 17.62 per cent.

However, there was no increase in the plan outlay allocation for the ministry for 2009-10. It remained at Rs 600 crore.