The State cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for establishing five new engineering colleges by the government.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M P Prakash, who briefed the media on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, said that the colleges would be set up in Ramanagara, Huvinahadagali, Kushalnagar, Raichur and Haveri.

According to Mr Prakash these colleges would start functioning from this academic year itself, though the All Indian Council of Technical Education (AICTE) is yet to accord its approval. “We’ll start the colleges where the buildings are available,” the minister said.

When a reporter pointed out that the CET cell had already completed counselling for more than 60 per cent of seats, Mr Prakash said new rounds of counselling would be held to fill up the seats in new colleges.

The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 60 crore for creating infrastructure for the new colleges.

Internal quota

The Cabinet decided to set up a sub-committee headed by Mr Prakash himself for suggesting internal reservation for SC/STs and backward classes.

The sub-committee would have ministers K S Eswarappa, H D Revanna, Govind Karjol, and Balachandra Jarikihole as its members. It had been asked to submit its report either before the next Cabinet meeting or a little later.

Thermal power

The Cabinet gave its consent for a number of concessions to the Nagarjuna Thermal Power Project, which is coming up in Udupi district.

Besides relaxation in entry fee and also special entry fee for three years since inception, there will be exemption in stamp duty on plant and machinery, capital goods, raw materials for five years.The company was also given 70 per cent concession in registration fee.

The Cabinet gave its approval for calling tenders for road works under the Prime Minister’s Grama Sadak Yojana. A sum of Rs 355.6 crore was earmarked in the 2006-07 budget for the maintenance of 13,000 km long roads in the State. So far single roads used to be awarded contract for maintenance.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for enhancing the upper age limit for lecturers for appointment to government colleges.

In case of general category candidates, the age limit has been increased from 35 years to 37 years. For OBCs the upper age limit would be 40 years instead of 38 years at present and for SC/STs it would be 42 instead of 40 years.

Mr Prakash said the Cabinet gave its consent for raising the pecuniary jurisdiction for lower courts from the existing Rs 50,000 limit to Rs 5 lakh.