From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 3: After waiting for the green signal from BJP high command to visit Delhi for discussing the formation of his cabinet following the victory in the trust vote in the State Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will finally be leaving for the national capital for three days from next Wednesday (August 6) to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah. 

The chief minister would be discussing the composition of his ministry with the national leadership and also meet many other union ministers on different issues pertaining to Karnataka, especially to expedite clearance of pending projects from the state. 

In order to streamline the Anna Bhagya scheme, the State Government has decided to conduct a survey of below poverty line (BPL) families for eliminating fake beneficiaries. 

The State has over 1.12 crore BPL families and all these families avail rice free of cost under the scheme. 

Yediyurappa, who chaired a day-long meeting with chief secretary, secretaries, deputy commissioners and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats, told reporters that free distribution of rice to 1.12 crore families has increased the burden on the State exchequer. 

The officials have been told undertake the survey in each district to check leakage of food grains.  

Anna Bhagya is a flagship programme of the Siddaramaiah government, which was announced soon after he became the chief minister in 2013. 

The state government on Friday announced that it will deposit first instalment of an additional sum of Rs 2,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will be deposited in bank accounts of farmers in 10 days. 

Soon after being sworn-in as the chief minister, Yediyurappa said an additional sum of Rs 4,000 in two instalments would be given to farmers from the State Government under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, which will take the total benefit to Rs 10,000, including Rs 6,000 from the Centre.  

The additional two installments would cost the state exchequer Rs 2200 crore.          As the drought condition in the state is severe, the chief minister directed the officials and Deputy Commissioners to take up relief works like drinking water, fodder supply, employment guarantee schemes on a war footing.         

To encourage fodder growing in farmers’ lands, he directed the officials to encourage fodder production in farms and as an incentive and purchase fodder grown by farmers at a cost of Rs. 4000 a tonne against the present rate of Rs 3000 per tonne.         

He said steps have been taken to take up fill water in 10 barrages across Krishna river from Almatti and Narayanapur Dams to meet water scarcity.