The State cabinet which met in Bangalore on Monday accorded approval for 41 drinking water schemes at a cost of Rs 488.8 crore in 11 districts.
Briefing media persons, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti said the schemes will be implemented in Belgaum, Bangalore Rural, Bijapur, Haveri, Chitradurga, Kolar, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Davanagere, Gadag and Mandya.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for implementing the 11 drinking water supply schemes in six districts. The schemes would be implemented with an assistance of Rs 128.70 crore from the Centre. The districts are Belgaum, Bellary, Chikmmagalur, Mandya, Koppal and Davanagere.
According to Mr Horatti, the Cabinet also gave its nod for supply of Cauvery water to Hunsur town and other nearby villages at a cost of Rs 18.25 crore.
Similarly approval was accorded for taking up the water distribution improvement work in Mandya town at a cost of Rs 6.75 crore and the second stage drainage improvement work in Kolar town at a cost of Rs  9.29 crore.
Approval was also given for constructing a barrage at Madalghatta village in Bellary district across the Tungabhadra river at a revised cost of Rs 11.43 crore.
According to Mr Horatti, approvals were accorded for setting up a 3500 metric tonne capacity sugar factory at Magdal village in Bidar taluk by the Bidar Kisan Sakkare Karkhane and 1500 metric tonne capacity sugar factory at Havinal village in Indi taluk by the Indian Sugar Manufacturers Limited.
With a view to deal with the chit fund-related frauds, the Cabinet gave its consent for appointing the registrar and the joint registrar of cooperative societies as the appellate authority.
The Cabinet decided to compulsorily retire the deputy director of fisheries at Chickmagalur D Srinivas Murthy from service for misusing Rs 90 lakh.
It also gave consent for recovering the amount from the officer.