Bihar not implementing agri-schemes; Nitish Kumar evades questions: Radha Mohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Concerned over poor implementation of centrally sponsored farm schemes in Bihar, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wants farmers' income to double then he should implement agri-programmes successfully.

The state has not submitted a report on funds spent on farm schemes so far and the Chief Minister "deliberately" evades questions on progress of agri-schemes in the state, he said in a release issued by the Agriculture Ministry.

"...what surprises me is that on one hand he (Nitish Kumar) is worried about the Prime Minister's plan to augment farmers' income and on the other hand, he is not implementing the schemes sanctioned by the central government for the welfare of farmers and growth of the agriculture sector in Bihar," Singh said.

"If the chief minister is really concerned about increasing the income of the farmers, he should show his commitment towards the implementation of the schemes approved by the Modi government in his state. Just talking would not do any good for the farmers," he said.

"Whenever he is questioned about it, he deliberately changes the topic," he alleged.

Sharing data of funds unspent by the state, the minister said that the Centre had under micro-irrigation scheme granted Rs 35 crore in 2014-15 fiscal and Rs 10 crore in 2016-17 fiscal, but "it could not spend Rs 31.71 crore till the end of the year 2016-17."

Similarly, under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana, about Rs 10.8 crore was unutilised though Rs 18.60 crore was granted during 2015-16. In 2016-17, Rs 21.60 crore was released, out of which Rs 10.8 crore was unspent.

Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, out of the amount given in the last three years, Rs 143.22 crore was not utilised. Even under National Food Security Mission, funds have been unutilised, he said.