As the budget session began in Gujarat, the governor of the state, Acharya Devvrat, addressed the Assembly today.

State finance minister, Kanu Desai, will present the budget for the year 2024-25 on Feb 2, the second day of the budget session of the Legislative Assembly.

“Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, a total amount of ₹15,407.82 cr has been directly deposited in the bank accounts of 64.13 lakh beneficiary farmers in 15 instalments till date,” said governor Devvrat, addressing the Assembly.

He also said that new centres of excellence are being constructed in Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Kheda, Narmada, Panchmahal, and Aravalli in the state to provide advanced technology for horticultural crops to the farmers.

Villages in Tharad, Dhanera, Disa, Deodar, and Kankrej talukas of Banaskantha have been given in-principle approval for two new pipeline projects.

More than 15,000 hectares of land will benefit from this scheme.

Construction of mini power stations at Vadodara, Miyagam, Saurashtra, and Kutch Branch Canal (KBC) of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada scheme is in progress. It is planned to generate 85.46 MW of power from these power stations.

Devvrat further said that the average per capita electricity consumption in Gujarat was 2,283 units in the year 2021-22, which has increased to 2,402.49 units in the year 2022-23.

“Electricity is a major necessary measure for the social and economic development of any state, which reflects the development of the state. Gujarat is capable and ready to emerge as a global leader in green hydrogen production,” said the governor.

The government formulated the Land Lease Policy 2023 to promote green hydrogen production, and two lakh hectares of land have been earmarked for allotment to developers.

Around 40 lakh metric tonnes of green hydrogen production capacity per year will be achieved.

To boost fishing activity, fishing harbours in Veraval, Madhawad, and Sutrapada are being developed at a cost of ₹1,300 cr. 

The governor said that a separate pension disbursement office has been started in the districts where the number of pensioners is higher. It has been in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Surat.

The budget session will continue until Feb 29, with a total of 26 meetings scheduled during the session.

The state government is preparing to introduce approximately 11 bills to enhance governance and address administrative sectors.

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