K'taka approves Rs 750cr for village development

In a move aimed at all-round development of villages, the Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday approved release of Rs 750 crore for the 'Suvarna Grama Yojane' (programme to provide basic amenities and infrastructure facilities in villages).

According to Karnataka's primary and secondary education minister Basavaraja Horatti, the funds will be utilised to develop 750 highly backward villages on a priority basis over the next six months.

"The government has identified 528 such villages so far. The remaining 222 villages will be shortlisted in the next 30 days," he added.

The 'Suvarna Grama Yojane' has been chalked out to implement the recommendations made by the D M Nanjundappa Committee on regional imbalance. It is modelled on the lines of Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) programme proposed by President APJ Abdul Kalam.

"As part of the programme, the farming community will be assisted to take up self-employment schemes. We will also improve the schools in the 750 villages," the minister stated.

The meeting also approved a proposal to construct a building modelled on the lines of Vidhana Soudha, in Belgaum, to hold legislature sessions. "The building is estimated to cost Rs 234 crore and will come up on 200 acres. A residential complex will also be built for the legislators and the secretariat," Horatti said.

Among other decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting are: Rs 500 crore package for infrastructure development in Belgaum district, development of Belgaum-Goa state highway (Rs 65 crore), government guarantee for Rs 186 crore loan being borrowed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd for the Raichur Thermal Power Station's 8th unit and release of Rs 4.14 crore to the Karnataka State Fisheries Development Corporation, the minister said.