Centre to increase area under irrigation: Shah

The central government has decided to launch the Pradhan Mantri Irrigation Scheme to increase area under irrigation up to 14 percent across the country in the next five years, BJP president Amit Shah said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a public meeting to mark one year of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, he said soil health cards on the model of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh would be adopted.

The scheme of soil health cards has been successfully implemented in these states to better understand the use of nutrients, fertilisers and improve productivity of soil.

Both the states have achieved 14 percent agricultural growth rate.

Referring to the previous UPA government, Shah said there was an atmosphere of disappointment everywhere during the 10-year rule in the country, besides inflation and corruption were at peak.

He said it was a matter of pride that not even a single allegation of corruption has been levelled against the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

There was a scam every month during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule which accounted for about Rs.12 lakh crore.

"Even the opposition could not level any allegation against our government," said Shah. He launched from this town the party's plan to hold 200-odd big rallies to mark the first anniversary of its government at the Centre.

The BJP president, who will visit Gujarat on May 27 and Goa the following day, said many decisions have been taken for the welfare of farmers in their hour of crisis, including increase in the compensation.

He said the Haryana government has given more than Rs.1,090 crore compensation to the farmers as per new norms.

"Had the old criteria been adopted, the farmers would have been able to get compensation of only Rs.212 crore. Our government released Rs.800 crore more as financial help to the farmers."

Appeasing the youth, Shah said: "We would provide employment opportunities to the youth through Make in India and Skill India schemes."

He also praised the functioning of the Haryana government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, which completed seven months in office on Tuesday.

During this time, not a single person could level allegation of corruption against the government, Shah said.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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