Green programme allocation drops 8 per cent

NEW DELHI: The Centre's programme to bring about a green revolution in eastern India was allocated Rs 400.02 crore this year, down 8% from the previous year.

The cut in allocation comes despite the apparent priority accorded to the initiative to improve crop productivity in the seven eastern states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh (Eastern) and West Bengal. The scheme was allocated Rs 435 crore last fiscal.

West Bengal, which was allocated Rs 102.37 crore last year - the highest amongst the seven states - received only Rs 72.20 crore this year, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Harish Rawat told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.