Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio set a record of sorts on Friday by presenting his 13th state budget as well as the 6th budget of the present Congress Government.

Updates of the budget speech:

• Basava Research centre to be set up in Mysuru University
• Special privileges for the welfare of Devadasis in the state announced
• To reduce scarcity of water for Bengaluru, BWSSB gets Rs 340 crore sanction to develop Tippagondanahalli and Hessarghatta lakes
• Tax on Jet fuel reduced by 5% to support central government’s UDAN scheme
• ‘The Boat House’ program announced in coastal regions to promote tourism
• ‘Arogya Karnataka’ program to be launched by the end of year
• Rs 5-lakh insurance coverage announced for state journalists under Madhyama Sanjeevini scheme
• ‘Arogya Karnataka’ programme to be launched by February last week
• Rs 5-lakh reward announced for inter-caste marriages involving Dalits
• Allocation of Rs 2,281 crore towards welfare of minorities in state
• 14 roads linking to ITPL will be developed
• Youth empowerment and sports department gets Rs 237 crore allocation
• Rs 5,371 crore allocated for welfare of Women and Child development in the state
• Rs 50 crore allocation for Bellandur lake rejuvenation
• Rs 5 crore allocated for construction of permanent memorial for slain policemen
• Public bicycle programme to be launched in state capital
• State guesthouse to be built at Rs 20 crore in Tirumala to benefit state pilgrims
• Raita Belaku to empower 70 lakh dry land farmers across state with economic independence
• KSRTC to get 10 double-decker buses for inter-city transport
• Multi-storeyed parking lots to be set up in 5 different Bengaluru locations
• CCTV cameras to be installed in 1,000 BMTC buses under Nirbhaya scheme
• Agriculture research centre and agriculture college to be set up at Muddebihal at Chamrajnagar resp.
• Rs 312 crore allocation for the development of 77 lakes in Bengaluru
• Rs 120 crore allocated for maintenance of Indira Canteens in BBMP limits
• Rs 600 crore allocation for Krishi Bhagya
• Rs 24 crore special package announced for minor millets
• Farm loan waiver hiked to Rs 1 lakh
• 6th pay panel recommendation accepted
• Farmers can avail Rs 10 lakh loan at 3% interest rate
• Rs 1,091 crore allocation for horticulture department
• Rs 2,099 crore allocation for minor irrigation sector in the state
• Rs 5,080 crore allocation for agriculture sector in the state
• Rs 15,929 crore allocation for water resource department in budget
• State GSDP has risen by 8.5% compared to 7.6% in 2016-17
• Prime focus on employment generation
• Power of democracy such that farmer’s son is presenting the budget