JOIN USIn its memorandum submitted to the Planning Commission recently, the state has pointed out that successive governments had to invest heavily in Bangalore for improving the infrastructure to take forward the Information Technology sector but had not received any incentives from the Centre.
“Bangalore has brought IT-led export earnings to the tune of 14 billion dollars to the country and deserved to receive substantial assistance from the union government for infrastructure development,” the memorandum states.
The state has also sought that decisions on construction of Metro within the municipal areas, claim settlements and fare fixation should be assigned with the State government along with formulation of rules. The present central legislation (Metro Railway Construction of Works Act 1978 and Metro Railway Operation and Maintenance Act 2002) has no role for the State government at all, and in effect it has taken away the development of Metro from the purview of the State government, it has submitted to the Planning Commission
The state has requested the Planning Commission to persuade the Railways to take up Commuter Rail project in Bangalore in partnership with State government on a cost sharing basis. The commuter rail project will provide the much needed connectivity on the north-south and east-west access of existing surface lines in Bangalore. The project is designed to integrate with road transport and metro project, goes the state’s request.
Karnataka’s wishlist
* Centre should extend mid-day meal programme for ninth and tenth standard students
* Centre should allocate funds in the ratio of 65:35 to implement Right to Education Act instead of the present 75:25 ratio
* Priority for treatment of dryland on watershed and setting up of Water Regulatory Authority
* Finance Ministry should set the borrowing limit for each state based on their debt sustaining capacity.
* Increased support from Centre to address malnutrition and anemia among children
* To add 9,500 MW to State power grid during the 12th plan period
* Support for 24x7 Ambulance service (Arogya Kavacha)