Karnataka to provide free power to farmers

Fulfilling its pre-election promise, the BJP Government in Karnataka yesterday announced free power to irrigation pump-sets of farmers in the state with effect from August 1 this year.

Presenting the revised Budget for the year 2008-09 in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said free electricity would be supplied to the irrigation pump-sets upto to 10 HP.

Yeddyurappa said he was setting aside a power subsidy of Rs 20.5 billion for the year that would cover the cost of supplying free electricity to the irrigation pump-sets.

Yeddyurappa also announced that loans at an interest rate of 3 per cent per annum to farmers, fishermen and weavers in the state. The new rate of interested proposed by the BJP Government is one per cent lesser than 4 per cent that was offered by the predecessor JD (S)-BJP coalition Government.

The Chief Minister said an estimated 5 million small and marginal farmers, who are totally dependent on dryland farming, would receive a one-time benefit of Rs 1,000 families to buy seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.

Yeddyurappa also announced that he would set aside Rs 5 billion as agriculture revolving fund that would enable the Government to intervene when the prices of agricultural commodities collapse and cause losses to the farmers.

Yeddyurappa has set proposed to take up infrastructure development works in Bangalore at a cost of Rs 18 billion. Out of this Rs 7 billion has been set aside for the Bangalore Metro project, which is underway.
An estimated Rs 3.5 billion will be spent on constructing ten flyovers and underpasses to ensure hassle-free movement of traffic in Bangalore. Rs 7 billion will be spent on providing drinking water facilities, besides construction of roads and sewerage facilities. A supportive grant of Rs 3 billion will be given to Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation to ensure civic facilities in the City.