Food subsidy enhanced to Rs 720 crore

Bangalore, Mar 20 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today enhanced food subsidy to the weaker sections of the society to Rs 720 crore and increased the total subsidy to the power sector to Rs 2,373 crore.

Presenting the budget for 2006-07 in the state Assembly, he said food subsidy would be continued in the ensuing years and the scheme would be planned well to ensure that only those below the poverty line get the benefit. Card holders under the scheme would be brought under a biometric identification system, he added.

The total state support to the power sector would increase to Rs 2,373 crore next year from the present Rs 1,750 crore. This included Rs 1,800 crore subsidy towards consumption by irrigation pumpsets, Rs 100 crore to Gram Panchayats which pay their power bill on time, Rs 127 crore to regularise 70,000 unauthorised irrigation pumpsets which were currently utilising free power and another Rs 100 crore as waiver of minimum charges to farmers who allow fixing of meters to their irrigation pumpsets.

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