Gehlot personally reminds Modi of his promise, demands to declare ERCP a National Project!

New Delhi: CM Ashok Gehlot, on Sunday, demanded that the Central Government declare Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a National Project along with hiking financial assistance of the Centre in various centrally sponsored schemes in the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. In the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gehlot strongly presented the issues related to Rajasthan.

He said that ERCP is an ambitious project of Rs 37,000 crore which will help augment irrigation facilities in an area of around 2 lakh hectares in 13 districts of Rajasthan. “Eastern Rajasthan is a leading area in the production of oilseeds. Besides this, by declaring it a national project, the problem of drinking water in these districts will also be resolved. Prime Minister had earlier promised to adopt a positive stance with regard to this project. This project will also help in successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission,” Gehlot said.

Demand to increase the share of Centre in centrally sponsored schemes
Gehlot said that there is an additional financial burden on the states due to the changes made in financial participation pattern in various centrally sponsored schemes. The Chief Minister also demanded the Centre to extend the period of GST compensation by five years to June 2027 and to release the GST compensation of approximately Rs 3,780 crore in a lump sum that is outstanding from 2017-18.

Increase Central share in health schemes
The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan has become a Model State in the field of providing free medical facilities to the general public. “The entire treatment is being provided free of cost and all the tests are also being done free of cost in all the government hospitals under ‘Nirogi Rajasthan Yojana’. ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’ is the next step in this direction, in which 88% of families in the state have been provided with insurance cover. Rajasthan tops the list in this sector in the entire country. In Chiranjeevi Yojana, 1.34 crore families are getting free treatment in government and private hospitals.” The CM further added, “Till now, more than Rs 2,202 crore has been spent on treating 18 lakh patients. The facility for liver, heart and kidney transplants is being provided under this scheme,” He demanded from the Central Government to increase the ambit of ‘Ayushman Bharat Swasthya Bima Yojana’ on the lines of this scheme.”