Jaipur, Dec. 6 -- Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday said that Rajasthan's thirst due to shortage of water is not the result of adverse climate but Congress's constant negligence. "Congress was only misleading the people during their tenure. Had they paid a minimum attention to the farmers during 70 years of their rule, farmers would have not struggled so much in their daily lives. Water and electricity are the top priorities for the farmers but Congress failed to address the issue. Rajasthan's thirst is not the result of adverse climate but only the Congress's negligence and political interest," Sharma said after laying the foundation stone of the reconstruction project of Ferozepur feeder. The project aims to ensure sufficient inflow in Gang Canal system in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh to benefit farmers to irrigate lands during both Rabi and Kharif season. The project will cost Rs.647.62 crores, the CM said. A CC lining from RD 0 to 168.230, reconstruction of two head regulators, new construction of a head regulator, a cross regulator, reconstruction of 19 VRBs/DRBs, and three railway Crossing Bridges will be reconstructed under this project. According to the CM, the excess water flown through Harike bridge will now be brought to Ferozepur feeder after the reconstruction which will directly benefit Gang Canal system. "These reconstruction projects will benefit the farmers across the 3.14 lakh hectare area of Gang Canal by boosting their crop production. A DPR of the project was prepared last year by the central Jal Shakti ministry following which it was decided that Rajasthan will bear Rs.268.50 crores of the total cost of the project while Punjab will bear Rs.379.12 crores." Taking a dig at the Congress, he further added, "(former CM) Ashok Gehlot served the state three times. Has he visited this feeder even once? How would he know what the farmers in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh are going through? Maharaja Ganga Singh constructed this canal system to make the arid Rajasthan greener. Congress has destroyed the tradition he started. While we made a slew of projects and schemes prioritising farmers and their need for water and electricity, Congress has only made some false promises to them". Sharma also announced increase in MSP of sugarcane by Rs.15. Referring to the progress in Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), he said, "Congress had stalled the project for more than 10 years despite having their own governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Centre. They could not resolve the issue and still call each other a friend. I had only one meeting with my MP counterpart (Mohan) Yadav and he was convinced." Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said, "BJP has done nothing for ERCP. What PM Modi has inaugurated is something which was already started by the Congress government. Recently, in Rajya Sabha, they had also said the Centre is not considering providing the project a national status - a fact that was promised by them during the election."...