Karnataka Cabinet approves new agricultural policy

Bangalore, Nov 10 (UNI) Karnataka cabinet today approved the new agricultural policy for farmers, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj S Horatti announced today.

Briefing newsmen here after the meeting, the minister declined to give further details on the salient features of the policy saying that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would explain it later at a fuunction soon.

He said the cabinet also decided to issue an ordinance to ensure landgrabbing and encroachment of government land as a punishable offence. This was to curb menace by land mafia especially, in developing cities, he added.

He said the cabinet also gave a formal clearance to the formation of the Greater Bangalore. Consequently the number of wards in the city municipal area would be increased from the present 100 to 150.

Another ordinance called Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Bill would be brought to control the menace by fake doctors.

The cabinet also decided to form a sub-committee headed by Public Works Minister H D Revanna to ensure effective implementation of rehabilitation package of farmers for which the centre had issued a grant of Rs 1568 crores and a loan of Rs 1121 crores. The package would cover districts of Belgaum, Chitradurga, Shimoga, Chkmaglur, Hssan and Kodagu, he added.

The minister said the cabinet also cleared the Upper Bhadra Project to irrigatae 1.42 lakh hectares of land in Chitradurga and Chikmaglur districts.

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