The Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on Sunday said that States in the eastern region have not been able to appropriately utilise the funds allocated to them under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme to extend green revolution in the States.

The Union Government had allotted Rs 400 crore under the scheme in the Union Budget 2011-12, and had termed the project “second green revolution”. The idea was to increase rice production in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during the current fiscal.

“I allocated funds for the second green revolution in the eastern States, but there is a question of availability of projects. I have asked the chief ministers of the States to formulate projects,” Mr Mukherjee said at the annual general meeting of Bharat Chamber of Commerce here today.

Though Eastern India has more rainfall compared to the North-west regions in the country, and has the advantages of unexploited good quality ground water aquifers which is sustainable for production of rice, banana, sugarcane and aquaculture, however, the agricultural productivity in this region is dismally low. The scheme, therefore, aims to increase the crop productivity of the region by intensive cultivation through promotion of suitable agricultural technologies and practices.

Admitting delay in implementing major reform Legislations, Mr Mukherjee said it was due to the limited mandate of the government.

“Questions are being asked, why DTC ( direct tax code), GST ( goods and services tax) and pension fund reforms are not being enacted. We must understand, we do not have an autocratic system of government; neither do we have a Parliamentary system where one party has an absolute mandate. We have been able to get a mandate, but it is limited. It requires time,” he said.

Slow growth, inflation, fiscal imbalance and current account deficit were the four areas of concern for the government, he said. “The euro crisis will take some time to resolve. The European leaders are collectively trying to address the issue. It will not only impact the exports of emerging economies, but also capital inflows. India is actively participating in all the forums to address this problem,” he said.

Later during the day, Mr Mukherjee was also present at a function to commemorate the centenary celebration of Punjab National Bank's presence in West Bengal.

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