BANGALORE: Karnataka Government today approved development of a peripheral ring road for the city at an estimated cost of Rs 5,800 crore with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, decided to appoint DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport) as the nodal agency, which would prepare a detailed project report on the 65-km project that would have 6-8 lanes.
It’s proposed to be modeled on the one existing in Hyderabad, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said in a media briefing.
The Cabinet decided to adopt and implement in the state from November 2 the Food Security Act passed by Parliament.
Jayachandra said the Cabinet discussed at length the reports on illegal mining submitted by the former Lokayukta Justice (Retd) N Santosh Hegde, adding, within the next few days, the government would make an “announcement” on the action to be initiated on their implementation.
Official sources said Jayachandra, Chief Secretary S V Ranganath and Karnataka Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar would now discuss on how to implement the reports.
The Cabinet decided to release Rs 29.66 crore for critical industrial infrastructure development, as also a scheme of angel funding to the tune of Rs 15 crore to new and innovative projects, and Rs five crore financial support to new R&D centers and strengthening existing ones to boost the manufacturing sector.
It also gave its nod to provide state government guarantee to NABARD refinance for Rs 1,550 crore to be raised by Karnataka State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ltd through flotation of debentures for 2013-14.
Meanwhile, Jayachandra said he met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar earlier today in New Delhi, and submitted a memorandum seeking Rs 1,250 crore central assistance to take up relief works in areas affected by drought and floods.
Pawar assured him to depute a team of central officers to the state shortly to assess the extent of damages, the Minister added.-PTI
