New Delhi: The Empowered Group of Ministers on Drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday approved an additional assistance of Rs 256 crore for rejuvenation of orchards in drought-hit Maharasthra.
However, the decision on extension of duty-free import of oilcakes to boost fodder supply was left to the Finance Ministry, which will take a call after assessing the demand and supply situation.
"The proposal on providing additional assistance of Rs 256 crore to protect orchards in drought-hit districts of Maharashtra has been approved," Pawar told PTI after the meeting here. The additional funds will be over and above Rs 400 crore already released under the National Horticulture Mission through a special scheme launched last month for rejuvenation of orchards in the drought-affected regions of Maharashtra.
Under this scheme, the Centre will bear 50 per cent cost, while the rest will come from the farmer. The EGoM meeting, attended by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Food Minister KV Thomas among others, reviewed the situation in drought-hit states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan....
more
12:28 PM, May 08, 2013
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh effected a major Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, giving away the major share to Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal to counter the Telangana forces in the former and ex-ally Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress in the latter. Several ministers were elevated to the Cabinet rank, with many new faces being included at the MoS level, even as portfolios of several ministers were changed. Below...
01:37 PM, Oct 28, 2012
New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has asked all central ministries to strictly adhere to the budgeted allocation as it would not be possible to provide additional funds because of tight fiscal situation in the current fiscal. "We have strictly asked all administrative ministries to stick to the funds provided in the 2012-13 budget and not seek any further funding under any scheme," a Finance Ministry official said. The Finance Ministry... 
