The Congress government in Karnataka, which completed one year in office, plans to lay thrust on increasing power generation, augmenting water resources for both drinking and irrigation and completing all long-pending irrigation projects.
Addressing reporters to highlight his government’s first year achievements, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said this year the government is planning to take up many asset creation activities which will give a boost the state’s GDP.
The state planned to spend ₹10,000 crore every year for five years to complete pending irrigation projects. “In the first-year, we were able to spend ₹6,730 crore. We are now gearing up to allocate as promised,” said the Chief Minister.
“During the financial year 2014-15, we plan to take up Upper Krishna project third phase, modernisation of Cauvery irrigation canals and Yetinaholle river diversion project, he said.
Talking about resource mobilisation, Siddaramaiah said, “We have achieved 97 per cent of the set target of ₹ 62,464 crore. The drag is due to poor motor vehicle sales and slowdown in property registrations.”
The State, at the end of March 31, has achieved 97.5 per cent in commercial taxes collection at ₹ 36,773 crore (target ₹ 37,740 crore) and excise collection is 101.6 per cent at ₹12,809 crore (₹ 12,600 crore). The Chief Minister said as promised in the Congress party’s election manifesto, the government has delivered ₹ 1 a kg rice scheme titled ‘Anna Bhagya’.