Food grain production may decline this fiscal in State: Guv

 Food grain production in the State is likely to decline to 110 lakh tonnes in the current financial year from the last year’s 114 lakh tonnes, owing to widespread drought.

In his address to the members of the State legislature on Monday, Governor Vajubhai Vala said Karnataka was likely to achieve food grain production of 110 lakh tonnes despite adverse weather conditions and drought in 136 taluks during the kharif season and in 62 taluks during the rabi season. He, however, did not present the comparative figures of the last year.

The governor’s speech to the members of both the Houses is a customary address to mark the commencement of the legislature session for the year. The governor, in his 31-page speech, dwelt mainly upon the government’s achievements in the current year. He also mentioned the steps taken to bail out farmers who were in distress and provide better infrastructure in Bengaluru.

Vala said steps were being taken to provide Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure such as online admission system, digital library, smart classrooms, tele-education, campus WiFi and online attendance management in higher educational institutions in a phased manner under the Jnana Sangama scheme.

The government has sanctioned nine incubation centres to be set up at engineering colleges in order to encourage entrepreneurship. Besides, the ICT Skills Development Society has been providing training to unemployed youth in basic ICT skills. A startup warehouse has been set up in association with the National Association of Software and Services Companies, he added.

The governor has described the recently held Invest Karnataka 2016 as a grand success and said the government had attracted over Rs 3 lakh crore of investment.

Approval has been already given to 1,080 projects worth a total Rs 1.77 lakh crore. These projects have the potential to create 4.82 lakh employment opportunities.

About 122 memorandums of understanding and expressions of interest were signed across the various sectors, he said.

Bengaluru development

The government has taken up road development works worth Rs 1,800 crore in Bengaluru, Governor Vajubhai Vala has said. Construction of flyovers, grade separators and signal-free corridors have been planned in select places to decongest traffic. About 60 bus shelters will be constructed on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis in the City.

 The Bangalore Development Authority has taken up rejuvenation of 117 lakes and six solid waste processing, treatment and disposal facilities have been commissioned, he said.

The governor also said that the first phase of Namma Metro covering 42.3 km would be completed soon and the second phase covering 72 km was under implementation.

Highlights

To soon commission the 800MW Yeramarus thermal power plant and 700 MW of Ballari thermal power plant (3rd unit).

SPV set up to implement piped natural gas project in Bengaluru.
Statewide Geographical Information System is being set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore.
Assessment of flagship schemes of Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and Krishi Bhagya conducted.