Mumbai, March 30: Opposition leaders in Maharashtra Legislative Council today criticised the state government over various schemes announced for agriculture sector in the budget saying they will not the help the farmers as ground realities have been ignored while framing them.
“The government announced crop loans to the farmers with reduced interest rates. But it is beneficial for those who repay loan on time. What about farmers who are not able to pay back,” Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Panduran Phundkar said.
Despite grave power crisis in the state, the government announced to give subsidy over electricity provided to agricultural pumps. But practically it is not possible, he said.
Praising Karnataka government for presenting separate budget for agriculture, Phundkar said the state government should follow the trend.
Pointing at deteriorating scenario of health sector, the BJP leader said the government had made a provision of Rs 24 crore for EGS and X-ray machines in primary health centres but there are no doctors, staff and medicines available at the centres.
Shiv Sena group leader in the Council Diwakar Raote said despite various packages announced for farmers, the suicides have not stopped.
In past three months, 144 farmers have committed suicides, he claimed.
Raote said the state government should come up with a white paper on the financial status of Maharashtra.
“The state is reeling under a debt of 2,44,975 crore and interest is about 17,000 crore. The government should declare through a white paper about the expenditure of the budget and financial plight of the state,” he said.
Ridiculing government”s announcement to remove tax on Vada Pav being sold in restaurants, Raote said most of the people in the city eat the popular snack on the streets.
“How would the announcement benefit them?,” he asked.
——–PTI