D.K. Malviya

“Infrastructure is a key to unlock the fortune of the people of The State”.

The present government was voted to power three years back with a mandate to rejuvenate the development process in the state leveraging the rich natural wealth it is endowed with. The state government has given a commendably good account of itself over last three years, living up to people’s aspirations and expectations with a hope for even brighter performance in the years to come. The last three years may, by every standard, be described as a watershed in the development history of Madhya Pradesh.

At the time the present government took over the state was in a state that could only be called satis, with almost every sector crying for development that had eluded them over the years due, mainly, to the gross neglect of infrastructure. Lack of proper infrastructure to facilitate all round development has, indeed, been the Achilles’ heel of this heartland state of the country. From day one the government pitched into making a dent in the inertia by de-clogging the development machinery at every level while mobilizing resources to achieve the development goals. It gave a fresh impetus to development of infrastructure with particular emphasis on roads, electricity and water while, at the same time, attaching equal importance to social sector.

At the time the present government took over the roads in Madhya Pradesh were in a pitiable condition and even a butt of jokes. The last three years have seen an unprecedented spur in road construction and improvement activity with addition of close to 32 thousand kms of road length. For this, the government doubled the allocation for roads. Even the Planning Commission of India has showered praise on Madhya Pradesh for doing the maximum work in attracting private investment in road sector in the country. The state government is likely to spend Ra. 3015 crore on construction of 6700 km road length in next couple of years. As many as 3558 more roads with a length of 16729 km have been sanctioned to connect 5494 villages to roads.

This is in contrast to the situation that prevailed from year 2000 to 2003 in road sector. During this period only Rs. 759 crore were spent on construction of 4810 km roads. Besides, only Rs. 807 crore was spent on construction of 742 roads having a length of 3368 km under PMGSY.

In comparison to this, during last three years from year 2003 to 2006 a sum of Rs. 3263 CRORE was spent on construction of 14411 km road length. Under PMGRS an amount of Rs. 2296 crore was spent on construction of 2085 roads with a length of 9354 km benefiting 3500 villages.

The present state government inherited a deep power crisis with entire state literally plunged into darkness. The government naturally placed the availability of adequate power to the people on top of its agenda. For the first time since its inception Madhya Pradesh would be adding over three thousand MW to its power generation by end of the year. Of this, generation of 2400 MW has already started. Madhya Pradesh has some very important achievements to its credit in power sector. In last two years uninterrupted power supply has been made to industry and round-the-clock supply to all the consumers from the month of July. During last three years the power generation capacity has been enhanced by 2396.5 MW. The 1000 MW capacity Indira Sagar Hydel Power Project has gone into production. Share of 826.5 MW has been received from Sardar Sarovar Hydel Power Project. Besides, generation of 20 MW from Bansagar, 40 MW from Madikheda and 10 MW from left bank canal of Bargi has been started. Recently, a 500-MW new unit of Birsingpur power state has been synchronized. This Rs. 2300 crore project would generate 3723 million units annually on completion.

Again for the first time in the history of Madhya Pradesh a record of supplying the highest 6109 MW to the consumers has been set. Though a lot still remains to do to fully overcome the power crisis, but the indications are that Madhya Pradesh would become self-reliant in power sector soon.

The capacity of transmission has been increased from 3890 MW in year 2002-03 to 5563 in year 2005-06. The target is to further increase it to 8170 MW by year 2008.

In order to encourage establishment of captive units, the cess has been rationalized and the same for existing units has also been reduced from 20 paise to 10 paise per unit. The power sector reforms have been implemented in right earnest in the state. As many as 92 special courts have been set up for quick disposal of power theft cases. Meters have been fitted on all feeders of upto 11 kilowatt for energy audit. Over 37 lakh electronic meters have been installed on the premises of consumers to check power theft and irregularities. Farmers installing meters have been exempt from minimum charge. A Rs. 2900 crore action plan would be implemented by end of the year to supply electricity upto the wells of farmers. An ombudsman has been appointed under M.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission for redressal of consumers’ grievances.

Availability of adequate irrigation facility is the key to economic progress in an agricultural state like Madhya Pradesh. In keeping with its promise with the farmers, the state government has made relentless efforts to augment irrigation facility in the state. Irrigation projects lying incomplete for many years have been completed and the budget provision for irrigation has been doubled.

The last three years saw the creation of irrigation potential for additional three lakh hectare in the state. In next two years additional irrigation potential would be created for three lakh fifty thousand hectare through different projects. Recently the government has sanctioned nine new irrigation projects estimated to cost Rs. 75 crore. On completion, these would irrigate over nine thousand hectare. During year 2005-06, irrigation potential for additional 83 thousand hectare was created which is a record. It is equal to the irrigation potential created during entire 9^th Five Years Plan.

Under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) Upper Bainganga (Seoni), Urmil (Chhatarpur) and Banjar (Balaghat), Rajghat (Datia) projects have been completed. Of these, Upper Bainganga and Rajghat projects were started in 1972 and 1975, respectively. Work on Indira Sagar, Bargi, Omkareshwar, Bansagar, Rajghat, Bawanthadi, Mahi, Maan and Sind is in progress under AIBP. In next two years, all these projects would be completed. A Rs. 1919 crore World- Bank-aided Water Sector Restructuring Project has been implemented to modernize existing irrigation systems for five lakh hectare in thirty districts. Under the project, this year modernization of 139 projects would start at a cost of Rs. 963 crore.

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to initiate river linking project in the country. A tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the central government, Madhya Pradesh government and Uttar Pradesh government for linking of Ken and Betwa rivers. Madhya Pradesh and Rajsthan have expressed consent for linking of Parvati, Newaj and Kalisind rivers. The completion of these projects would enable both the states to make full utilization of the water in Chambal and Betwa basin.

This year, an allocation of Rs. 1150 crore has been made for irrigation projects, which is 15 percent more than last year.

Besides, Narmada Valley projects would irrigate additional 94 thousand hectare this year. A minor hydel power project policy has been formulated for irrigation and power generation. Bansagar project was started in 1978, which was completed in 2006. The Rs. 610 crore canal system of this project would be completed in 2008-09. It would irrigate one lakh 53 thousand hectare. On Bansagar project only Rs. 400 were spent between 2001 and 2004 against which the present state government spent Rs. 700 crore from December 2004 to December 2006. There is a target to dedicate to people the Mahi project by June 2008.Under Vision 2008, there is a target to complete 453 minor projects to irrigate additional 6 lakh 10 thousand hectare. Five irrigation projects have been sanctioned for each Assembly Constituency and all these 1150 projects would be completed within stipulated time limit. Survey of five major projects has been completed. These are Orchha multipurpose project, Ganeshpur pickup weir, Ban Sujara, Singhpur Barrage and Lower Kolar projects.

The Pench diversion project had been pending since 1988. The state government obtained its sanction on November 30,2005 and construction work on it has already been started. This would irrigate 89378 hectare in Chhindwara and Seoni districts besides generating 500 MW power. Its revised cost is Rs. 543 crore 20 lakh.

The thrust given to augmenting irrigation facility would boost agricultural production and help a great deal to make farming a viable occupation.

The state government has made effective efforts to turn agriculture into a lucrative preposition in last three years. As a result the growing indifference of farmers to their traditional occupation has been reduced considerably. For the first time in the history of Madhya Pradesh the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened a Kisan Panchayat to hold a direct dialogue with farmers about their problems and difficulties and to elicit their views regarding their solution. Besides, an Agri-business Meet was organized to explore the prospects of boosting the trade in agricultural products.

The interest rate of cooperative loans for agricultural loans has been reduced to 7 percent. For this, the state government has provided Rs. 51 crore 19 lakh to banks from its own budget. There is a target of providing loans worth Rs. 3060 crore during year 2007-08.

In order to save the crops in unirrigated areas from wilting due to lack of rains and to provide water for first irrigation a Farm Pond scheme has been introduced. Under this 50 percent of cost of the pond or maximum Rs. 16,350 is given as subsidy to farmers. Besides, 25 percent of the cost of a pond or maximum Rs. 50 thousand is given as subsidy to farmers for construction of large tanks on their lands under Balram Tal scheme. A maximum grant of Rs. five thousand is given to farmers for purchasing a bullock cart. A computer network christened Agrinet has been put in place at block level to provide information to farmers about improved farming techniques, market rates and other necessary information. The information is available on www.mpkrishi.org. A district wise seed-rolling plan has been prepared to increase availability of improved varieties of seeds. A target has been fixed to increase the rate of seed transplantation from present 6-8 percent to 12-15percent.Soil testing labs have been set up in all the districts. A programme is being implemented to provide soil health cards to all the farmers to help them utilize fertilizers and micronutrients in suitable quantity. So far, 28 lakh 20 thousand Kisan Credit Cards have been distributed. A Kisan Kalyan Ayog has been set to find abiding solution to problems of farmers. Agro Science Centres have been started in 46 districts and this year the same would be set up in remaining two districts. After a gap of 16 years, agricultural colleges have been established at Tikamgarh and Ganj Basoda. A bio productivity certification institute has been set up for certification of bio products. With a view to boosting agro products a sanitary and phyto sanitary lab has been established to ensure quality of agro products at international level. The VAT on diesel has been reduced from 28.75 percent to 26 percent to provide relief to farmers. Stamp duty has been abolished on agricultural loans of upto Rs. ten lakh and the farmers would not be required to pay any fee for obtaining NOC.

The state government has made concerted efforts to ensure cheaper and quality power to farm sector. The previous government has announced the waiver of pending electricity bills of farmers in 2003, but it failed to reimburse the amount to the MPSEB. So, the farmers continued to receive the bills. The present government reimbursed an amount of Rs. 1785 crore in December 2005 to the MPSEB. A grant of Rs. 1797 crore was also paid the MPSEB so that farmers may get electricity at cheaper rates. A number of concessions have been provided to the farmers for payment of dues.

Concrete steps have also been taken to make the procedure easier for providing relief to farmers affected by natural calamities. The relief amount has been increased by one and half to two times. Land records have been computerized and certified copies of khasra and khatauni and other land records are provided to farmers the same day they apply for it.