The Narendra Modi government has decided to bring two crore hectares under irrigation in an attempt to deal with the agrarian crisis caused every year by water scarcity during the summer, reported dna. Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said the Centre will use various schemes such as the Rs 80,000-crore Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme and around Rs 20,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana for the purpose.
"Two crore hectares can be irrigated and agriculture production could be doubled through agriculture schemes including Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, for which a provision of Rs 80,000 crore has been made in the budget," the Union minister said. Of the land cultivable in the country, only 46% receive adequate irrigation at present.
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