Bengaluru: More than 2.25 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from the state government’s plan to waive off interest for those who pay the principal amount by March 31, 2017. The initiative is aimed to help farmers in drought-hit areas in the state.
Addressing the joint session of state legislature, Governor Vajubhai Vala on Monday lauded the Siddaramaiah government’s programmes for the welfare of the farming community. “Several market interventions have been initiated to rescue farmers from hardship caused due to prevalent low agricultural commodity prices. These include procurement of onions at Minimum Support Price at a cost of Rs 65.43 crore, procurement of coconut at a cost of Rs 155 crore and payment of a bonus of Rs 450 per quintal for procuring tur dal,” he said.
The Governor said the state government had promised to invest Rs 50,000 crore for irrigation in 5 years, of which Rs 42,540 crore has already been spent in last 4 years to bring large tracts of land under irrigation. “Visveswaraya Jala Nigam Ltd, a new corporation, has been formed for implementation of the Yettinahole and the Upper Bhadra Projects. Twenty seven major and medium irrigation dams are being rehabilitated under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme with the assistance of the World Bank at a cost of Rs 276 crore. I am happy to inform this august House that the Central Water commission has conferred on the State an award of excellence for Almatti and Narayanapura dam rehabilitation and improvement activities,’’ the governor said.
The state government has achieved a revolutionary transformation in making villages ‘Open Defacation Free’. At the end of 2016 26 lakh toilets have been constructed in rural areas, 4954 villages, 26 taluks and 5 districts have been declared as Open Defecation Free, he said.
The Governor has appreciated the progress in Housing sector too in making the state ‘hut-free’ by stating that 10.42 lakh houses have been built since 2013-14. About 6 lakh more houses would be built in the remaining tenure of the present government, he said.
2708 beds in three years
Highlighting the improvement in health services, Vala said, in the past 3 years 2708 beds have been provided in government teaching and super speciality hospitals. In the current year, a unit of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research would become functional in Mysuru. Upgradation of the Kidwai Cancer Institute of Bengaluru including installation of Linear Accelration Equipments and Robotic Equipmenets would be completed.
Four skill development centers
Karnataka is laying special emphasis in maintaining its edge in human resources by setting up 4 Centres of Excellence for Skills development in Bengaluru, Kalaburgi, Dandeli and Mysuru in association with M/s Siemens. The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation is setting up new industrial estates at Sarathi, Chikkahosalli, Muttugadahalli, Ullarthikaval, Kundapura and Hireshakunahalli, Vala said.
Development of stadiums
Giving a boost for sports infrastructure in the state, Synthetic Athletic Tracks are being laid 13 stadiums, a multipurpose indoor stadium in Belagavi and a modern velodrome for cycling in Vijayapura would be ready soon. The Bengaluru Hockey Stadium is also being upgraded.
