JOIN USRevealing this to media, the vice-chairperson of the Planning Board D H Shankaramurthy said Vision - 2020 for the overall development of Karnataka by the year 2020 was sent to all the MLAs for their feedback and the board received many suggestions. After incorporating many of the suggestions, a final draft was prepared, which got the Cabinet nod on Friday.
Shankaramurthy said the Vision-2020 deals with infrastructure development, road, education, health, housing, poverty eradication and supply of drinking water. More emphasis has been laid on the drinking water for which the Planning Board has suggested to spend Rs 60,000 crores in the next eight-ten years. When Shankaramurthy was asked where the funds would come from, he said the Central government funds 80 per cent of such schemes and for the remaining amount, the government can get loan from the World Bank. He said the World Bank grants loan at two per cent interest rate after five years of the project. He said, at least four major river projects in the State - Nethravathi, Cauvery, Krishna and Almatti - can sort out the drinking water problem if the water resource is utilised properly.
The Vision - 2020 sets target to get the project completed. It also analyses the viability of the projects. “We will give a target and ensure it is achieved,” said the vice chairperson of the Planning Commission. When asked whether the Vision - 2020 also keeps in mind pilferage that can pose impediments in achieving the goal, Shankaramurthy said that part has not been looked into.