Karnataka to come out with cheap IMFL for arrack ban affected

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Karnataka government is proposing to come out with affordable Indian Made Foreign Liquor for those likely to be affected by the banning of arrack sale in the state.

This was explained to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who wanted to know as to how the government would tackle the problem those addicted to arrack, by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who met him to explain about the salient aspects of the Rs 73.71 surplus budget presented in the state Assembly yesterday.

Mr Yediyurappa said the government was thinking of providing affordable IMFL to those addicted to drinks and told about the resolve to ban sale of arrack even at the cost of losing Rs 1,950 crores and another Rs 250 for banning online lottery.

The Deputy Chief Minister told Mr Vajpayee the move had the support of ''Stree Shakti'', the self help women groups in Karnataka, who were willing to support the government's steps to eradicate the problem economies and health of several poor families.

With the shifting of some of these arrack drinkers to IMFL, the losses would be reduced in the range of around Rs 800 to Rs 900 crores, Mr Yediyurappa, who is handling both Finance and Execise Departments, said.

He will meet former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani tomorrow morning before leaving for Bangalore.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the state government, for the first time, had earmarked Rs 1,600 crore for setting right the regional imbalance witnessed in the north-Karnataka region.

Several social welfare schemes like bicycles for girl children, widow pension schemes and Bhagya Lakshmi would directly benefit about 32 lakh individuals and added athe common man was happy with the budget.

UNI