KARNATAKA

BS Yediyurappa may leave tax rates unchanged in new budget

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Chief ministerBS Yediyurappais under pressure to fill a large revenue gap in the states finances, but he is unlikely to raise taxes in the forthcoming budget.

The government, experts say, should instead focus on generating more revenue from non-tax sources such as asset monetisation and leverage an additional borrowing window provided by the Centre.

The government had expected tax revenues of more than Rs 1.1 lakh crore in 2020-21, but it is likely to miss the target by at least Rs 5,000 crore because of the economic disruption triggered by the pandemic. Revenue from commercial taxes and duties on liquor sales has improved strongly, but stamp & registration duty and motor vehicle tax collections have lagged.

Karnataka has limited scope to alter taxes in the GST regime. It can propose rates for only commodities such as petroleum products and liquor, apart from property and vehicle registration.

Jakanacharis sculptures part of Karnatakas heritage

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Karnataka has made its own unique contribution to Indian sculptural tradition, said Viranna M Arkasali, former president of Karnataka Shilpakala Academy. He said the state is a pioneer in the world, and credit for this must go to sculptor Jakanachari.

He said Jakanachari was a great artist and sculptor who settled in Kedalu village of Tumkuru and later took shelter under the Hoysalas. Arkasali pressed for research about Jakanachari to bring out several facts about him. The temples carved by Amarashilpi Jakanachari in several villages and towns of Karnataka have earned a place in world HISTORY as they have introduce the history and heritage of Karnataka to the world.

Shiradi Ghat closure: Ktaka may lose 50% cargo to other states

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The proposed six-month closure of Shiradi Ghat a major link between the coast and Bengaluru would cause huge revenue losses to the state in terms of cargo flowing to the New Mangalore , the gateway ofKarnataka.

New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) says export-import traders, Karnataka state andNMPTitself could lose up to 50% of the cargo flowing in through National Highway-75 to other states. It says exporters and importers will face huge losses due to increased transportation cost, which will make their goods dearer in international markets denting future orders.

The presentation, given to the Kanara Chamber of Commerce, says a closure negatively impacts movement of essential commodities.

NGT fines Karnataka government Rs 2,900 crore for lapses in waste management

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Coming down heavily on the Karnataka government for failing to checkenvironmental pollutionby ensuring effective solid waste andsewage managementsystems, the ordered it to pay Rs 2,900 crore as compensation.

TheNGTprincipal bench in Delhi has been, for eight years, supervising compliance of earlier directions issued by theSupreme Courtwith regard to handling solid waste and sewage management.

The steps taken by the Karnataka government in handling solid and liquid waste have been inadequate, and it has caused much damage to Environment and public Health, NGT said. Assessing the extent of damage and estimating compensation on the Polluter Pays principle for restoration of the environment, NGT initially estimated compensation payable at Rs 3,400 crore.

IPC crimes decline for third year in Bengaluru, fourth in Karnataka

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In a continuing trend of declining crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Karnataka and Bengaluru reported a 11% and 27% dip in 2020, respectively.

Analysis of data from the latest crime statistics report by National Crime Records

Bureau (NCRB) and figures for four previous years before 2020 show while Karnataka has seen a drop in IPC crimes for the fourth consecutive year, such cases have reduced for the third straight year in Bengaluru.

The state recorded over 1 lakh IPC crimes in 2020 compared to about 1.2 lakh in 2019, registering a 11.5% dip. Bengaluru, which accounted for about 19% of all IPC crimes in the state, reported 19,964 cases, which is 27% lower than the 27,251 cases reported in 2019.

In the past five years 2016 to 2020 the state has seen nearly 6.5 lakh IPC cases, of which 26% or 1.7 lakh were registered in Bengaluru (see graphic). Data shows there has been a consistent decline in IPC crimes, which cops attribute to enhanced policing and a general shift in crime patterns, with criminals indulging more in non-traditional offences.

A break-up of major IPC crimes for 2020 shows a 26.6% decline in kidnapping, 8% in abduction for ransom, less than 1% in rape cases, nearly 19% in house break thefts and 32% in cheating cases.

The number of people who were robbed also declined by nearly 26%, but those murdered increased by 2%, while attempt to murder cases went up by 11%.

Govt will set up coop society in every GP for bank activities: Min

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Cooperation minister KN Rajanna on Sunday said that theSiddaramaiahgovernment has decided to set up a cooperative Society in every gram panchayat to facilitate cooperative-related Banking activities across the state.

He was speaking after unveiling the plaque at the centenary celebrations of the Graduates Cooperative Bank. He said the intention behind formation of these societies is to bring people of all communities, irrespective of their economic and social background, under the cooperative banking sector to avail facilities provided by the bank.
Shareholders of these societies can enjoy all facilities like interest free, subsidised loan up to Rs 5 lakh and crop loan. The government will also distribute seeds, chemicals and Fertilizers and promote other community activities under these societies.

He suggested the Graduates Cooperative Bank to utilise Rs 18 crore welfare fund it has reserved to utilise for the welfare of the shareholders Health and Education.

Social welfare and Mysuru district minister HC Mahadevappa asked cooperative bodies, institutions to come up with inclusive initiatives to involve all communities to enjoy government facilities. He said thatKarnatakais the cradle of cooperative movement in the country.

National Institute of Technology Karnataka’s 24-hour HackVerse 4.0 to use ONDC

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TheNational Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal is all set to hostHackVerse 4.0, a 24-hour national-level hackathon organized entirely by budding engineers. It is scheduled on April 15 and applications will close on April 8.

According to organizers, it will be the first Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) hackathon hosted by an engineering college in India. Additionally, it will be the first Hackathon to incorporate Metaverse Integration intoONDC, making it a unique and exciting opportunity for participants. Rajveer Singh, lead organizer of the event told that along with several other APIs, this yearHackVersewill also allow students to develop on ONDC, which is established by the Department for Promotion ofIndustry and Internal Trade of the Government of India.

73% senior citizens in state living in penury

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The state has 42.35 lakh senior citizens living below the https://exam.pscnotes.com/POVERTY-line”>Poverty Line, yet the government does not run a single shelter house for the elderly.

According to a 2011 Population survey, the total number of senior citizens over the age of 60 is 57.91 lakh. This indicates that 73% ofKarnataka‘s elderly population is impoverished. They receive a monthly pension from the State Government and all haveBPLcards.

The poverty statistics was made available during the winter session in Belagavi in December. The data was presented in response to MLCTejaswini Gowda‘s concern about senior citizens.

K’taka govt withdraws six pvt varsity bills owing to objections from ruling, oppn parties

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The Karnataka government on Thursday withdrew the bills to set up six private universities owing to objections not only from the opposition Congress and JD(S) but also from the ruling BJP MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly. Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan tabled the GM University Bill, The Sapthagiri NPS University Bill, Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha University Bill, The T John University Bill, The Kishkinda University Bill and The Acharya University Bill.

As the GM University Bill came up for discussion today, Narayan said 40 per cent of the seats will be regulated, while the fees for the remaining 60 per cent will be based on the consensual agreement by the Fees Regulation Committee.

Covid fatalities: Karnataka moves to third behind Kerala

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Karnataka moved down to third spot among states in the total number of Covid-19 deaths, thanks largely to Kerala recognising appeals raised by family members of deceased patients. After the new rule was introduced, fatalities in Kerala zoomed to 41,600.

However, unlike Kerala, Karnataka does not demarcate the number of cases added to the tally through appeals from families, although it has kickstarted a reconciliation process. Karnataka had ordered district administrations to form special committees to receive applications from the public detailing deaths in the family. But there is no clarity on the number of deaths that have been added to the tally since the process began.

To claim the governments ex gratia of Rs 50,000 per death, bereaved family members have to prove that the cause was due to Covid-19. Authorities admit some cases, which were earlier not categorized as Covid deaths or not included in the state Covid bulletin, did come to Light.