KARNATAKA

Karnataka losing Rs 20,000 crore to illegal mining: PAC

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Karnatakalegsilature’s (PAC), in a report tabled on Tuesday, pegged loss due toillegal miningof minor Minerals at Rs 18,000-Rs 20,000 crore annually.

The report said it extrapolated a recent case study cited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) that identifed a revenue loss of Rs 2,324 crore in Chikkaballapura taluk alone due to illegal mining.

The committee recommended Karnataka use technology to identify mining areas and track activities, while suggesting that the state can triple its present non-tax revenue of Rs 6,300 crore through minor minerals mining.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai will present budget in February

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Keeping in mind the past traditions due to assembly , he is expected to present a Vote on Account of four months.

Two rounds of meetings have already taken place with officials of the finance department.”After the current session gets over, there will be discussions with all the departments and a few boards and corporations to make preparations for the budget in January,” Bommai said.The proposed budget session would be the last session of the current Karnataka assembly, after which assembly polls are scheduled to take place.

Karnataka: Centres loan offer to fund Gati Shakti evokes mixed response

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The Centres proposal to extend financial assistance to states in the form of interest-free loan to invest on projects under the PMGati Shaktischeme has evoked mixed response inKarnataka. Some experts even sought to call it a Money lending scheme’.

Union ministerNirmala Sitaramanin her budget speech on Tuesday said that the Centre has proposed to allocate Rs 1 lakh crore to assist the states in catalysing overall Investment in the economy for 2022-23. This comes as an interest-free loan for 50 years and the states are allowed to avail this over and above their borrowing limits allowed under the Fiscal Responsible and Budget management (FRBM) norms.

A state cannot borrow more than 3% of its gross state domestic product (GSDP), but it was relaxed in the backdrop of the covid-induced slowdown. The 15th Finance Commission has allowed the state to borrow up to 4% of its gross state domestic product (GSDP), which is around Rs 17 lakh crore, and Karnataka has proposed to borrow Rs 17,332 crore for 2021-22. Of this 0.5% is linked to power sector reforms.

The Centre has apparently intended to continue the borrowing scheme as it introduced during the first and second wave of pandemic to pay GST compensation and allowed the states to borrow under a special window provided by the Reserve Bank Of India. While the Centre will repay principal and interest on behalf of the states, Karnataka has availed Rs 12,407 crore in 2020-21 under the scheme and it is entitled to get Rs 18,109 crore in 2021-22.

The budget has fixed the Centres Fiscal Deficit target for 2022-23 at 6.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) and some observers said the Centre would not be able to stick to the target if it takes the debt burden of Rs 1 lakh crore and hence it has transferred it to states.

As part of theCauvery Callingmovement, spearheaded bySadhguru, 3.5 crore saplings will be planted in the Cauvery basin districts of Karnataka andTamil Naduby 2022, with participation of over one lakh farmers. A village outreach programme was launched to cover 1,785 gram panchayats in 57 taluks to reach out to farmers in Cauvery basin districts of Karnataka within two months.

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Cauvery Calling is the biggest initiative involving farmers in a big way and has seen enthusiastic participation from them so far. The new outreach programme will reach Karnataka farmers through 890 trained people who will create awareness on tree-based farming in the nine districts.

Karnataka: Under govt insurance in 5 years, 55 lakh got treatment worth Rs 6,000 crore

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Since its inception in 2018, theAyushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya YojanaArogyaKarnataka(AB-PMJAY-ArK) Health assurance scheme has benefited about 55 lakh people and Rs 6286. 7 crore has been reimbursed to hospitals towards their treatment.

The health department has seen an over 600% increase in reimbursements till 2022-23 compared to when the scheme started in 2018-19. However, the number of people who possess AB-PMJAY-ArK cards remains a measly 27% of the targeted 5. 1 crore APL or BPL ration cardholders, the schemes target Population.

On the flip side, a high enrolment, did not naturally mean higher coverage. He said coverage in districts such as Kodagu and Udupi is relatively high 39. 6% and 28. 6% yet delivery of Services under the scheme is low in these districts. Also, one reason for high enrolment could be their small populat ion size compared to other districts.

Karnataka govt clears projects worth Rs 13k cr amid pandemic

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The state high level clearance committee (SHLCC), headed by chief minister BS Yediyurappa, on Wednesday cleared projects worth Rs 13,175 crore amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prominent among the cleared projects include a major in the production of liquid Oxygen by Jindal Steel Works (JSW).

At a time when JSW is the single largest source of medical oxygen in the state, close to 440 MT at full capacity, an added facility is likely to benefit Karnataka in the long run and add to the capacity of the steel manufacturing major.

The project, sub-leased fromJSW Steel Ltd, will be executed by a subsidiary of its under the name of JSW Techno Projects Management limited at a cost of Rs 892 crore inTorangallu,Ballari.

Another major project which recieved clearance from the SHLCC was that of a single unit complex ofIndian Oil Corporationlimited (Iocl) in Chitradurga for storage and dispatch of petroleum on a 130 acre land parcel.

Traders told not to sell Karnataka jaggery with Kolhapuri tag

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TheKolhapurAgriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture produce market committee (APMC) has asked the traders and commission agents of theAPMCto not procure jaggery made inKarnataka.

Jaggery is produced in Kolhapur in a completely natural process. In fact, Kolhapuri jaggery got a geographical indication (GI) tag in 2014 for its natural process, unique taste due to high sugar cane juice content and most importantly, because it is free of chemicals. However, jaggery made in Karnataka and other regions in Maharashtra are made sweet by addition of sugar, as the sugar cane grown in those areas have lower sugar content. The addition of excess sugar imparts excess sweetness to such jaggery, making it attractive for the customers in cities and other states. As a result, Kolhapuri jaggery fetches between Rs 300 and 400 less per 100 kg block.