Karnataka to tackle Bengaluru infrastructure woes

Bengaluru, Feb 2 (IANS) The Karnataka government is taking measures to tackle the various problems of Bengaluru, especially its infrastructure and waste disposal, Governor Vajubhai Vala said Monday.

"Under the Nagarothanna scheme, Rs.1,000 crore has been allocated to improve the infrastructure of Bengaluru city and new solid waste management plants are being set up," Vala said at a joint session of the state legislature in Vidhana Soudha here.

Addressing the lawmakers of the state in Hindi for the first time since he assumed office Sep 1, 2014, Vala said the metro rail project (phase-1) was targetted for completion this year.

"An expert committee has been set up to study issues of bifurcation of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for effective governance," he said in his hour-long speech.

Though the lawmakers were given a copy of the governor's address in Kannada and English, his decision to read out the 24-page maiden speech in Hindi was protested by various Kannada organisations, including Vatal Paksha, a regional political outfit, led by former lawmaker Vatal Nagraj.

Listing out the ruling Congress government's priorities this year, Vala said the state commission for backward classes would soon undertake a survey of social and educational institutions to help uplift the weaker sections of society.

"My government has started implementing a new industrial policy to boost growth, investment and employment across the state. Entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST, women and minorities will get higher incentives," he said.

Recalling that the state government had this fiscalcleared 23 industrial proposals worth a combined investment of Rs.17,000 crore, which would generate 24,000 jobs, the governor said special measures had been to taken to provide facilities, incentives and concessions to set up industries in backward regions, including the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

"State finances have improved over last year, giving a fillip to development activities. Collection of commercial taxes grew 16.5 percent to Rs.26,847 crore up to November this fiscal over the previous fiscal while revenue from excise increased 8.43 percent to Rs.8,823 crore till November this fiscal over the previous fiscal," Vala noted.