 "Karnataka's tax collections up 16% to Rs 26,847 cr in April-Nov")
“The e-initiatives of the department have made tax compliance by the tax payer easier, simpler and more transparent, acclaimed one of the best practices to be adopted under the indirect taxes administration,” Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala said.
Addressing the joint session of the state legislature for the first time after taking over as Governor of the state, Vala said, the revenues earned by the excise department have grown 8.43 per cent to Rs 8,825 crore between April and November 2014 compared to last year.
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Khajane-II project, an integrated financial management system, is intended to be implemented in the state during the current year, he said.
In order to boost industrial growth, investment and employment opportunity in the state, a new industrial policy has been operationalised, he said and added that steps have been taken to provide more facilities, incentives and concessions to establish industries in backward regions of Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST, women and minorities will also get higher incentives. During the current year, the state high level clearance committee has approved 23 proposals for an investment of Rs 17,000 crore which would generate 24,000 jobs, he said.
Environment restoration in mining districts
To develop the three mining-affected districts of Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru, the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) has been constituted and an action plan has been prepared for Rs 2,000 crore, the governor said.
Rules for mining of sand and other minerals have also been amended in the interest of environmental protection and scientific mining. To overcome the scarcity of river sand, steps have been taken to encourage the production of M-sand (manufactured sand), he said.
The government has taken up several measures to augment the power situation in the state. Ballari Thermal Power Unit state-3, Eramarus unit 1 & 2 will be commissioned in the current year. Action has been taken to regularise large numbers of irrigation pumpsets of farmers.
Renewable energy sources are being tapped for power generation. To promote solar energy generation, a new solar policy has been announced, he said.
Vala said, the government has also implemented 15-point programme since coming to power in May 2013 and six more were added this year.
For the development of vast rural areas, a programme to build 1 million individual toilets, 2,000 water purification plants have been taken up as a drive.
The creation of 439 new gram panchayats have been approved and the process of delimitation of gram panchayats is also being taken up. “My government is also considering amendments to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act to strengthen the panchayat raj institutions,” Vala said.
Bengaluru City improvement
The governor said, steps were initiated to tackle various problems of Bengaluru city particularly relating to infrastructure and waste disposal. Under Nagarothana scheme, Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated for improvement of infrastructure in Bengaluru city, new solid waste management plants are being set up. Bengaluru Metro Rail project phase-1 is targeted for completion this year.
An expert committee has been set up to study the issues of bifurcation of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for effective governance, he said.
For the development of 10 city corporations in various districts of the state, works with an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore have been approved under Nagarothana scheme phase-3, he added.
New Tourism policy
A new tourism policy is also being implemented in the state this year. During the current year, Rs 400 crore has been provided for development of tourism, the governor said.
“My government has approved formation of a new company, the Karnataka Tourism Infrastructure Limited, which will undertake development of infrastructure at tourist places,” Vala said.