n what comes as good news for farmers, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, today announced a budget of Rs 45,000 crores for the interlinking of river Ken and Betwa. The project was approved under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers by the Modi government. The Ken-Betwa interlinking hopes to transfer water from the Ken river to the Betwa river.
The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel. The project is likely to boost irrigation in the region largely prone to water-crisis. The total cost of the Ken – Betwa link project has been assessed at Rs 44,605 crore price levels. “Ken-Betwa link at Rs 44,605 crores to be taken up to provide irrigation to 9.05 lakh hectares, 65 lakh people drinking water, hydro and solar power,” the FM said in her Union Budget speech. “Under PM Gatishakti master plan, national highway network will be expanded by 25,000 km in 2022-23; Rs 20,000 crores will be mobilised through innovative ways of financing to complement public resources,” she added.
Kisan drones will be pushed for crop assessment, land record digitization, and pesticide and fertilizer spraying; states will be urged to modify agro-university curriculam : FM Nirmala Sitharaman .
- Ken-Betwa link at Rs.44605 crores to be developed to supply irrigation to 9.05 lakh hectares, drinking water to 65 lakh people, hydro and solar power: Sitharaman, FM
- The national highway network will be developed by 25,000 kms under PM Gatishakti’smaster plan in 2022-23 with Rs.20000 crores mobilized through innovative finance methods to supplement public resources: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
- The Credit Guaranty Trust for SMEs will be revamped with the necessary capital, allowing for extra credit of Rs.2 lakh crore for MSEs and expanding job opportunities: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
- In the first stage, chemical-free natural farming would be promoted throughout the country, with an emphasis on farmers’ land in 5 km wide corridors along the river Ganga: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
- The Finance Ministeralso stated that the Railways will develop new products for farmers and SMEs. To assist local businesses and supply chains, ’one station-one product’ model has been implemented. 400 Vande Bharat trains to be manufactured in next 3 years.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama delivered the fourth Union Budget of the Modi Government 2.0 on Tuesday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The customary ‘Bahi Khata‘ was replaced this year, as it was in 2021, by a Made in India tablet. Sitharaman delivered the financial figures and tax recommendations for fiscal year 2022-23. (April 2022 to March 2023).