The Karnataka government is proposing to establish biotech parks in prominent cities to promote the biotechnology sector in the state. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, in his Budget proposals for the year 2009-10, said the government would take steps to establish biotech parks based on the recommendations of the Biotechnology Mission.
He said Rs 10 crore had been sanctioned to the state-owned Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation (Keonics) to set up an IT park in Gulbarga. To give incentives for establishing IT-based industries in the backward areas of Gulbarga, the chief minister announced an assistance of up to Rs 20 lakh to every unit.
He said the government would promote setting up of electronic public call offices (e-PCOs) to popularise use of Internet in rural areas.
Yeddyurappa also announced an assistance of Rs 10 crore for the establishment of ‘excellent’ institutions, improvement of science education in colleges, universities, district level science centres and museums among others. This was based on the suggestions made by the Mission on Science and Technology, headed by scientist Prof C N R Rao.
The government has also decided to set up ten apparel clusters with private participation in Gulbarga, Bellary, Hubli, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Shimoga, Davanagere, Mysore, Ramanagar and Chikkaballapur.
The government will extend 20 per cent share capital to each cluster, which require an investment of about Rs 40-50 crore investment. About 500,000 lakh people are employed in the 1,500 garment units located in and around Bangalore, he said.
The chief minister also announced that an Expenditure Review Commission would be set up to advise the state government on ways to increase implementation of more productive programmes and cut expenditure. The commission will have experts to guide the government.
“There is a need to review the expenditure incurred on government programmes and to reduce expenditure on less productive programmes,” he said.
