Panchayats in Karnataka get Rs 1,270 cr

The Karnataka government on Saturday released Rs 1,270 crore to gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats as per budgetary allocation for the third quarter of FY '06.

Talking to reporters, here on Saturday state finance and industries minister P G R Sindhia said that he will tour all districts from October to monitor the utilisation of funds.

Out of the total grants, zilla panchayats will get Rs 509 crore, taluk panchayats Rs 743.18 crore and gram panchayats Rs 8.73 crore, he said.

In connection with the Dasara celebrations, the public works department has been granted Rs 2.5 crore for roadworks and renovation of government guesthouses in Mysore, the youth services department Rs 50 lakh for the Dasara sports meet, and the kannada and culture department Rs 50 lakh for cultural programmes, he said.

Sindhia also announced the finance department's plan to release Rs 623 crore to the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. for completion of the Upper Krishna Project as per the budget proposals.

The finance department has given its consent for the establishment of six permanent Lok Adalats as sought by the law department, he said.

The financial health of the State is sound and there is no dearth of funds for budgeted works, Sindhia added.