Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday the biggest challenge before his government was the negative agriculture growth that would have a cascading effect on the state’s overall GDP. Addressing mediapersons in Nagpur, Fadnavis expressed concern over the continued water crisis and higher expenditure, which might lead to higher off-budget borrowing. Stating that Maharashtra can’t afford a GDP growth less than 10 per cent, the CM said, “If the state’s plan size is Rs 54,000 crore and we have to spend Rs 10,000 crore more on tackling drought, the possibility of exploring various options, including higher borrowing, cannot be ruled out.” He said 3 lakh farm ponds were the only way forward to effectively tackle the water crisis in Marathwada, Vidarbha, parts of north and west Maharashtra. “In Madhya Pradesh, construction of 5 lakh farm ponds helped in agriculture growth up to 24 per cent,” said Fadnavis. Acknowledging that incomplete irrigation works would require Rs 1.25 lakh crore, he said, “We have decided to stress on works that are 75 per cent complete to channelise the available water to farmers.” He claimed that the state’s mega-infrastructure projects had also been designed in such a way the benefits reached both urban and rural Maharashtra. The Rs 30,000-crore Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway would be a game changer, asserted Fadnavis. He added, “The project, which will be complete in 2019, will change the economy in 14 districts that are worst drought-hit, panned across Vidarbha and Marathwada. The two critical aspects, which have to be expedited with greater investment, are power and water. On the power front, more than generation, we have to focus on competitive tariff.” Citing an example, Fadnavis said, “ In Israel, even with 50 per cent less rainfall compared to our worst drought-hit districts, they have adopted technology for efficient water management.” The CM added that various land reforms undertaken by the government would help it mobilise resources up to Rs 40,000 crore.
