Jaipur, Feb. 8 -- Union Jal Shakti minister Chandrakant Raghunath Patil on Saturday extended his assurance that Rajasthan, which has been struggling for water, would receive the largest share of water in the country in the next few years. "Last year, we also decided that the water of Sindhu river (Indus) will not be shared with Pakistan. We will use it for the development and welfare of our country. Sindhu's water will now help states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab," he said. "Better water resources will also fetch more industry in the state leading to its robust development. Then, this state will definitely make some major contributions to the overall development of the country," added the Union minister. Addressing a press conference on the recently released Union Budget in Jaipur, Patil said that the budget reflected the Centre's commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India the third-largest economy in the world. Claiming that the number of businessmen in small towns had increased, Patil said that the nation's financial situation reflected steady development, improving resources, and better facilities under the BJP-led Centre. "High taxes were a problem for the common people. But the number of tax defaulters has come down in the last few years owing to the government curbing the burden of tax on the people's shoulders," he claimed. Patil also praised chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for working tirelessly for the state. "He is always worried about the state and its development. Every time he goes to Delhi, he stops by my place and ensures some more funds for the development of Rajasthan's water resources. He is the one who convinced both Haryana and Madhya Pradesh and increased Rajasthan's share of water in the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and Yamuna water project." htc...