From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 27: Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani held discussions with Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje on establishing a Spices Park at Ambale in Chikkamagaluru district on Friday.

The Minister also discussed the issue of rejuvenation of problematic soils as well as issues pertaining to processing and export of Agriculture Produce with the Union Minister.

The Union Minister promised to take up issue with her department and asked the State Government to submit formal proposals.

Shobha calls on Bommai

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai later met Shobha Karandlaje in Bengaluru and discussed issues pertaining to agriculture.

Agriculture Minister B C Patil, Horticulture Minister Muniratna, Union Agriculture Department Joint Secretary Sumita Biswas, State Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Vandita Sharma, Agriculture Department Additional Chief Secretary Raj Kumar Khatri, Horticulture Department Secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria, Animal Husbandry Department Secretary P Manivannan and Chief Minister’s Secretary V Ponnuraj were present during the discussions when the Union Minister called on the Chief Minister.

10 acre land at Ambali for Spices Park

The Union Minister, who held discussions with State’s Industry Department officials in Udyog Mitra in Bengaluru’s Khanija Bhavan on Friday, was assured that 10 acres of land will be provided in Ambale village near Hosakote in Chikmagaluru district for establishing the spices park.

Nirani said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) will provide financial assistance of Rs 20.35 lakh for the proposed spices park.

Taking up Karandlaje’s suggestion for establishing a special unit for facilitating export of agriculture produce from the State, Nirani offered to take up the proposal from the State’s Industries Department.

Nirani also urged the Union Minister to enhance the compensation to farmers in the catchment areas of Krishna river for rejuvenating the quality of soil, which loses its fertility during floods, and pointed out that it was a regular problem. The amount sanctioned for the purpose is insufficient.

Karandlaje promised to discuss the issue with the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and convince him on the genuine demand for enhancing the compensation under the NDRF.

Shobha Karandlaje, incidentally, is the Lok Sabha member representing Chikmagaluru-Udupi constituency.