BENGALURU: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday presented the State budget for the year 2023-24 and stated that a hospital on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi would be constructed in Raichur while a super speciality hospital will be constructed in Kumta of Uttara Kannada district.
Bommai also stated that the budget presented by him was an ‘Eco Budget’ and the budget aims to reduce hazards on the environment through implementation of various schemes. The Eco Budget, Bommai said will help revive green vegetation in hills, increase green cover in areas where green cover has been lost, Kandla forest activities in coastal areas of the State and also Shelter Belt management.
About 3,211 hectares of area will be under ShelterBelt management and about 168-km of area under Krishna River catchment area will have green cover. He also stated to have plans to plant saplings of about 25 lakh in the State in coming days.
In the budget, the Chief Minister who holds Finance portfolio, announced that more than 30 lakh farmers can now avail interest free short-term loan upto Rs 5 lakh. The loan amount limit is a hike from Rs 3 lakh to help farmers to make their preparations for agricultural operations in the coming season.
Among the announcements made for the farmers by the Chief Minister in the budget included ‘Jeevanjyothi’ insurance scheme for small and marginal farmers numbering about 56 families. A sum of Rs 180 crore would be provided to help these families with social security cover. To help farmers in animal husbandry activities, the Chief Minister said a mega dairy will be set-up in Ballari with a capacity of 2 lakh litre at a cost of Rs 100 crore.
For girls studying in schools and colleges, the Chief Minister said ‘Vidyavahini’ scheme will be introduced wherein free bus passes will be given to them and with this scheme, about 8 lakh girls will be benefitted and have access to education.
The budget said, landless women working as agricultural labourers will get Rs 500 financial assistance from the State Government directly to their bank accounts. Training will also be imparted to women to start Home based Industry. Women under acid attacks, he said, will now get monthly Rs 10,000 from the present Rs 3,000 pension.
Bommai said steps would be initiated to commence works on Mekedatu Project in Ramanagar across River Cauvery to make use of surplus water and provide the water to Bengaluru city, Ramanagar and adjoining places. To start the works, he said, a petition has been filed by Tamil Nadu against the Mekedatu in the Supreme Court and steps will be initiated to resolve the issue.
Regarding construction of a balancing reservoir across River Tungabhadra in Koppal district, Bommai said a Project Report has been readied and since sharing River Tungabhadra is an inter-State issue, a meeting has been held over construction of a Balancing reservoir. Meetings will also be held with Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the construction of a balancing reservoir.
