Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Saturday said Central projects in Odisha are being implemented at a slow pace.
“Moreover, the State has lost an allocation of `50 crore during the current financial year as it failed to submit a detailed project report (DPR) for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana,” Singh told reporters here after reviewing the implementation of the Centrally-sponsored schemes in the agriculture sector.
Stating that the Centre provided assistance to the State whenever the latter sought it, the Union Minister expressed his unhappiness over the non-submission of utilisation certificates (UCs) to the Centre.
“As the State is not giving utilisation certificates within the stipulated time, we are unable to give more allocation,” Singh said.
Regarding farmers’ suicide, Singh said he would talk to the State Government to admit such cases. He laid emphasis on profit, good marketing, and storage capacity for the farming community.
State Agriculture Minister Pradeep Moharathy, who was present, said he would ensure that all the allocated funds are spent by March this year, adding, “70 per cent of the Centre’s allocation has already been used and the rest will be used within the target period.”
During the review meeting, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, State Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout and Pradeep Maharathy were present and drew the attention of Singh about the Centre’s drought assistance.
Notably on January 6, the Centre had approved Rs 815 crore as drought assistance to Odisha. But later, it decided to reduce the assistance by Rs 214 crore.
Union Minister Pradhan requested the State Government and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for facilitating extraction of bio-fuel from paddy residues in the State.
Pradhan assured that such a project would provide Rs 500-600 crore of additional benefit to farmers. Procurement of raw material for the project would be undertaken by his Ministry, he added