From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 17: Fishermen stand to get multiple benefits including a Rs 20,000 increase in the Housing Subsidy from the present Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per unit for construction of houses under the Matsya Ashraya scheme.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the State Cabinet on Thursday, Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar said the Government has set apart a sum of Rs. 11.41 crore for construction of 2,000 houses for fishermen in 2011-12.

In addition, fishermen belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will get enhanced subsidy amount from 50 per cent to 90 per cent for purchase of safety jackets and life-buoys to protect lives when at sea during rough weather and cyclonic storms.

The subsidy would be given under the provision of safety items for fishermen scheme. Subsidy for other social groups has been hiked from 30 per cent to 75 per cent, Dr Acharya said.

He pointed out that the cost of life-buoys and jackets was Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 2,200, respectively in the market.

The Minister said the Cabinet also decided to release Rs 2 crore to cooperatives of fishermen for granting loans at 3 per cent rate of interest.

A sum of Rs 1 crore, Rs. 80 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh would be given to cooperatives in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada and the Karnataka Cooperative Fisheries Federation,respectively, the Minister said.


Rs 25 cr Coconut Development Project Okayed

The Cabinet approved a Rs 25 crore for coconut development project to be implemented by the Horticulture department during 2011-14 for increasing area under the crop.

The Rs. 2150 crore Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project for developing 3411 km road in the State was also approved.

The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank would be granting loans of Rs. 1565 and Rs. 585 crore respectively for the project being executed in three years in all divisions of the State.

The State Cabinet also decided to allow 10 reputed engineering colleges, which had set aside 95 per cent of seats for the government quota, to retain 50 per cent of the fee collected from students during the admission to courses.

Taking into account the recent hike in pay-scales for the staff and fiscal burden on colleges, the State Cabinet decided to permit the colleges retain the fee.

Now, these colleges will be able to collect Rs. 15,000 fee from each students obtain admission under the government quota and return to the Government Rs. 7500 (50 per cent of the fee), the minister explained.

Cabinet Sub-Committee on Power

It was decided to authorize the Chief Minister to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee on power to monitor generation and supply of power during the coming months besides deciding on purchase of power and coal.

The Cabinet approved a Rs. 82.5 crore drinking water pipeline project at Torekadanahalli in the City under the Cauvery IV stage, II phase. Now the drinking water is being supplied through open channel (6.4 km).

The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board would share the cost on equal basis.