From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Aug 22: With 55 per cent increase in the allocation of funds in the current financial year for Karnataka under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the State Government has decided to utilise funds for developing industrial estates in gram panchayats that are located close to towns and cities.

The Centre’s allocation for the scheme has been increased from Rs 2,025 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,151 crore, an increase of Rs 1126 crore (55 per cent), according to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil.

The Centre has released Rs 439.57 crore and Rs 616.01 crore in the first and second quarters of 2014-15 respectively to the State.

Owing to implementation of electronic fund management system (eFMS) across all districts, the State had been allocated more funds in the current financial year.

A total of 23,156 defunct borewells located in rural areas have been sealed in the last two weeks, Patil said.

The State government launched a drive to seal open borewells after a six-year-old boy fell into one at Sulikeri village in Bagalkot district on August 3.

The minister said the deadline for sealing defunct borwells in the State is August 31.

All defunct borewells have been sealed in all 30 districts, he said.

The highest number of borewells were sealed in Shimoga (2921) followed by Raichur (2554), Koppal (2030), Haveri (1958) and Bagalkote (1859).

The panchayat development officers would collect information from citizens and ensure sealing of all defunct borewells by August-end, Patil said.