K'taka Govt to introduce new wine policy: DCM

Bijapur, Karnataka, Jan 16 (UNI) To encourage horticulture, the Karnataka Government will introduce a new wine policy and separate trading of wine from other alcoholic beverages, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said today.

Speaking after inaugurating a private winery at Arakeri village, near here, he said that under the new policy, wine would be made easily available to the comman man.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State was making efforts to develop horticulture by offering up to 75 per cent subsidy. Under the National Horticultural Mission, the State had been allocated Rs 138 crore this year and the State Government had made available another Rs 200 crore to develop horticulture.

The Government would allocate funds in next year's budget to build cold storage facilities in different places. It would also accord top priority to develop tourism in the State, he said.

Meanwhile, a large group of sugarcane farmers took out a procession in the city and submitted a memorandum to Mr Yediyurappa, demanding an inquiry into the ''mismanagement'' of Shivkumar Sugar factory in Indi taluk.

A bandh call given by Congress Legislator Shivanand Patil in the city, demanding the inquiry, passed off peacefully.

Later, Mr Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for a tank filling project to be taken up at a cost of Rs 305 crore to address the drinking water needs of Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.

Addressing the gathering, he said that in the first phase, 16 tanks in Bijapur and eight tanks in Bagalkot district would be filled with river water at a cost of Rs 86 crore. The remaining tanks would be filled in a phased manner.

The Government would consider filling the total 39,000 tanks in the State phase-wise during summer for drinking water and irrigation purposes, he added.

UNI