Dangerous neglect

BS OPINION

 In reality, though, virtually no investment has flowed into this vital sector in the past two decades, resulting in a clear deceleration in agricultural growth. It is not just that no new major or medium irrigation project has been launched since the 7th Plan (which ended in 1990), but also that the outlays earmarked for irrigation in central and state budgets have been insufficient even to meet maintenance and administration expenses.

 The Centre