CM keeps his maiden exercise free of taxes, fuel hikes; moots Namma Clinics

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

In what seems to be a ‘please all’ budget with an eye on the BBMP elections and the 2023 Assembly polls, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in his first fiscal exercise, announced `1,000 crore for the Mekedatu reservoir project, kept the budget free of new taxes and fuel hikes and doled it out big for the state capital’s comprehensive development setting aside `8,409 crore besides granting huge funds for the next phase of Namma Metro.

The CM however disappointed the Muslims and did not make any new allocation for them leading to criticism from Opposition leaders including former CM Siddaramaiah. He did not forget to dole it big to other castes and communities in what seems to be a move to win over their votes.

A major announcement pertained to the freeing of around 30,000 temples from the clutches of the Department of Muzrai. Henceforth, temple managements will decide on development works required and plan them accordingly.

In a bid to help farmers increase their income, Bommai proposed ‘Raitha Shakti’, a new programme under which diesel subsidy of `250 per acre would be given as part of agriculture mechanisation. Two new agricultural colleges have been proposed in Hagari in Ballari and Athani in Belagavi.

A cow adoption programme has been announced to encourage the adoption of cows. Bommai also proposed 438 ‘Namma Clinics’ for nonepidemic diseases in all wards of BBMP and in other major cities.

Lion’s share for Bengaluru

• Rs 45 crore for Sky Walk at Banashankari junction to connect the metro station with the bus stand.
• Rs 55 crore for connecting metro stations with railway stations at Whitefi eld, KR Puram, Baiyappanhalli, Yeshwanthpura and Yelahanka.
• Rs 15,267 crore for four corridors of suburban railway project for a length of 148-km to be completed by 2026.
• Rs 404 crore for infrastructure works at Sir M Visveshwaraiah, Banashankari 6th stage and Anjanapura layouts.
• Rs 500-bed super-speciality hospitals in four parts of Bengaluru under PPP model.
• Rs 1,500 crore for development of mega storm water drains in Bengaluru.

Rs 300 crore to fi x rain-damaged roads, Rs 1,000 crore allocated for Mekedatu project

• Rs 500 crore allocated for farmer empowerment through energy project and purchase of machinery for procurement of energy
• Rs 300 crore for roads damaged during rainy season
• Rs 1,000 lakes to be developed at a cost of 10 lakh per lake
• Rs 440 crore for the re-asphalting of 1,008 state highways
• Rs 1,500 crore for education, social and economic development
• Rs 80 crore for development of automatic driving testing tracks at Devanahalli, Kolar, Hospet, Gadag, Ballari, Vijayapura, Bhalki, Yadgir, and Davanagere
• Mega Jewellery Park to be established in Bengaluru to create 10,000 jobs
• Rs 186 crore from District Mineral Fund for the Greenfi eld Airport at Raichur
• Rs 30 crore for heliports at Madikeri, Chikkamagalur and Hampi