Bengaluru, Jul 10: The Karnataka cabinet gave its approval for "The Karnataka Contingency Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020" to enhance the contingency fund limit to Rs 500 crore in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will be an ordinance making one time enhancement in the limit as the government needs money to make payments immediately, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
Under the contingency fund, the government had room to spend up to Rs 80 crore without budget provision.
"...but this time due to COVID-19 as we had to give money to some sections that were in distress like barbers, flower and vegetable growers, taxi drivers, among others, we have decided to increase the limit to Rs 500 crore," Mr Madhuswamy said.
"As assembly was not in session and as we had to make payments to those in distress immediately, this decision has been taken," he added.
The cabinet today ratified the administrative approval given to carry out civil and electrical works to install medical gas pipeline with high flow oxygen system at district hospitals, taluk and community health centres coming under Health and Family welfare department in view of COVID-19.
The minister said about Rs 207 crore is being approved for this purpose.
It also ratified procurement of medical equipment and furniture for public healthcare institutions of the health and family welfare department worth Rs 81.99 crore.
According to the minister, the cabinet has decided to bring in an amendment to section 9 of the Lokayukta act, which mandates that the preliminary inquiry contemplated by Lokayukta or Upalokayuta should be completed in 90 days and charge sheeting should be completed within six months.
Noting that at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) cess was being collected, he said as the government had brought in an amendment to the APMC act, there was demand to reduce the market cess. "So we have reduced it from 1.5 per cent to one per cent."
Approval has also been given by the cabinet to bring Karnataka Vidyuth Kharkane (KAVIKA) and Mysore Electrical Industries (MEI), which are presently under the control of Commerce and Industries department, under administrative control of the energy department.
Other decisions taken by the cabibinet include deployment and implementation of "e-procurement 2.0" project on PPP at a cost of Rs 184.37 crore and ratification of the action taken to issue orders on March 24 to release interest free loan of Rs 2,500 crore to ESCOMs for payment of outstanding power purchase dues to generating companies.
The cabinet also gave administrative approval for setting up of an Indian Institute of Information technology at Raichur.
"Under this, we are committed to provide Rs 44.8 crore in four years for infrastructure," the minister added.
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Vinaasha kalakke vipareetha budhi
I dont understand, why media giving attention to this rubbish speech.. He just wanted media attention. and also he wanted to thrill his followers..
Nalin Kumar Kateel is no. 1 terrorist. Once he told, he wanted to burn entire Mangalore.
Shakha trained bhakt ! Modi & Shah are very happy on his comment on CM. Nalin Don't worry you are eligible represent educated Mangalorean (?) in forth coming Parliament election -2019.
This kateel is delivering an election speech or mocking himself?
An uneducated goon who threatened to set entire Dakshina Kannada district on fire is a desh bhakt. And a farmers’ leader turned politician who upheld the concept of Kalnaya Rajya is a terrorist. What a joke.
Katilanna.. First learn language. The meaning of Sultan is King. You are hailing him as king. King will be terrorists for only terrorists.
I think politics of this region is a curse. There is no boundries to the wild allegation and lies that these politicians utter. I think we have to play back some of his terrorism speeches including burning of DK speech.
The only way we can stop BJP getting back to power in Karnataka is to switch to ballot system.
What they think they can fool all Kannadigas, as they did in North East, UP.
Unfortunately the people in that regions are very innocent. They don’t understand how they are being fooled by their leaders specially Modi and Amit Shah.
Now their own people are fed up of them. Many secular leaders left the BJP and jointed Congress.
Kateel is very lucky to be a MP who really does not deserve to be Grama Panchayat member.
The cleanest CM is Siddaramiah, in the recent generation, like very few CM s we had in the past like Nijalingappa, Kadidal Manjappa. He never indulged in single bribery or corruption.
He is Very straight and strong leader, who has always worry for the people. But our stupid opposition want to destroy him for their selfishness at the cost suffering of poor people.
May God almighty help our people to understand the fact and elect the best leaders.
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