Bengaluru: Did Chief Minister Siddaramaiah really do away with a separate agriculture budget, which was almost a tradition for the previous BJP government?
Dismissing Opposition leaders' claims that he had neglected the agriculture sector by not tabling a separate agriculture budget, Siddaramaiah quipped, "I have only done away with a separate book for agriculture for I felt it was eyewash.
The previous BJP government tabled a separate agriculture budget twice but ironically, the book did not help boost agriculture as production saw a slump. I have made good allocations for programmes in agriculture and allied sectors like animal husbandry, sericulture, horticulture and water resources."
While, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar alleged that Siddaramaiah had dropped many 'BJP schemes' including Suvarna Bhoomi and Crop Insurance for political reasons, KJP state president and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa condemned the government for discontinuing the trend of tabling a separate agriculture budget, which was the first in India.
To reiterate his government's commitment to agriculture and irrigation, Siddaramaiah said the Budget had elaborate plans for these sectors. "We plan to set up an Agriculture Produces Price Commission in the state comprising agriculture scientists, farmers and economists, with a revolving fund of Rs 1,000 crore.
The Commission will fix the minimum support price when market circumstances are adverse and also engineer market interventions," said Siddaramaiah. To bail out farmers during distress years and to increase land under irrigation, Siddaramaiah announced a new funding pattern.
“Apart from the central disaster relief funds, we will compensate crop loss through a new Disaster Mitigation Fund. Over the next five years, we will spend Rs 50,000 crore on irrigation in a phased manner.
The Cauvery basin canals will be modernised to plug leakages and a separate Lake Development Authority will be set up to rejuvenate 26,000 lakes under ZPs and 3,500 lakes under minor irrigation in the state. An amendment to APMC Act is on cards to prevent exploitation of farmers,” added Siddaramaiah.
Popular schemes to stay: CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that popular schemes launched by the previous BJP government had not been dropped but had found no mention in the budget document, as they were ongoing programmes.
"Bhagyalakshmi scheme, bicycles to school children and Sandhya Suraksha are ongoing programmes and will continue. However, the farmers' loan waiver of Rs 3,600 crore will be implemented in phases as the Jagadish Shettar government had left behind only Rs 950 crore for the waiver," he said.
Budget boost for public safety, policemen
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave priority to public safety in Friday's Budget as he announced infrastructural development for the state police at a cost of Rs 150 crore. He announced that 32 new police stations will be built across the state and all the districts in the state will get more highway patrol vehicles.
The CM also announced better healthcare facilities for the police and their families and allocated Rs 5.3 crore for the same. The amount will be equally shared by the home and transport departments.
Other plans included construction of 10,000 police residential quarters by the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, and upgradation of the police schools in Koramangala and Mysore. While Indian Reserve Battalions will now be stationed at Davangere and Tumkur too, better infrastructure has been planned for Karkala's Anti-Naxal Force camp at a cost of Rs 9 crore.
Former chief of the state police, Dr. ST Ramesh appreciated the Budget, as he felt it demonstrated the Chief Minister had grasped the requirements of policemen and made provisions accordingly.
"It has covered both the need to strengthen the force and provide more welfare scheme for the families of policemen," he noted. "The decision to raise two India Reserve Battalions will increase the strike force of the Karnataka police. Also, providing highway patrol vehicles, a police commissioner's office in Belgaum and 32 new police stations will definitely help the police function better.
Building of more police quarters, introducing a separate healthcare system for the police and their families are all good programmes as well," he added.
CM paves way for 9 new highways
The CM rolled out the red carpet for contractors and private investors to build roads and logistics parks across the state. In his budget speech, the CM proposed to develop nine state highways under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
"I propose to develop nine state highways of 753 km length at a cost of Rs 2,234 crore under the PPP model. Apart from this, with a view to develop industries, colonies and small towns on the road between Bidar and Chamarajanagar, detailed project reports will be prepared to develop this road into an eight-lane 'Kalyana Patha' road," Siddaramiah said.
He also proposed to develop logistics parks under PPP model which will help reduce the logistics cost and ensure efficient storage systems, reduction of wastage and quick supply to various regions.
"Logistics parks will have ICD, warehouses, truck terminals, cold storage and related commercial facilities," he added. Siddaramaiah also maintained that a Minor Airport Policy will be announced to utilise the existing idle airport infrastructure in the state.
"The basic infrastructure for undertaking airline operations is in good condition. It is proposed to identify a private airline operator for commencing flight operations on select routes, through a transparent bidding process that will get certain concessions from the state government," he added.
The state government will also focus on developing infrastructure in North Karnataka. The Hubli-Ankola railway line and Tadadi port will be taken up for development in co-ordination with the Union government.
Rs 347 cr for tourism sector
With complaints on poor tourism infrastructure pouring in, the government allocated Rs 347 crore for the tourism sector.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that to bring all tourist activity under a single roof, tourism plazas will be constructed at World Heritage Sites in Hampi and Pattadakal. Further, the much awaited Tourism Trade Facilitation Act will be implemented this fiscal year. An additional Rs 60 crore will be provided for strengthening the tourism department and to boost its activities.
The other tourism initiatives include a Karnataka Darshan for students of backward classes and minorities, tourist taxis to backward classes and minorities and a Surajkund like handicraft fair in Bengaluru.
For the promotion of Kannada and culture, the government has set aside Rs 263 crore while to promote Kannada in foreign universities, Kannada study chairs will be established at Wurzburg, Vienna, Heidelberg and Munich Universities. A Kannada software project- UNICODE- which was languishing will be revived.
Giving a fillip to measures to reform prisoners, Rs 30 lakh was granted to Sankalpa, an institution which trains prison inmates in art and culture. A grant of Rs 25 crore was made for establishing an international standard museum at Roerich Estate in Bengaluru.
State to get More RTOs
Chief Minister S. Siddaramaiah has come out with several plans to improve the delivery of transport services, which includes inter-connecting city regional transport offices (RTO).
The highlight of the budget is four new regional transport offices at Banashankari, Chamarajpet, R.T. Nagar and Marathalli to augment the existing ones. The CM has also proposed new RTO offices at Hubli and Suratkal, while Dandeli, Madhugiri and Tarikere will have assistant regional transport offices. The CM has also proposed that the transport department goes in for digitalisation.
Another major proposal by the government is inter connecting all RTOs in Bengaluru city to ensure that citizens can avail of services from any RTO in the city.  The CM announced three new automated driving test tracks at Mangalore, Belgaum and Hospet at a cost of Rs.15 crore. It is proposed to utilise Rs.4.5 crore during the financial year 2013-14.
Two heavy vehicle driver training institutes will be established in Mangalore and Gulbarga at a cost of Rs 30 crore. "It is planned to implement VTMS and PIS system in 4000 vehicles and in 45 major bus stations of KSRTC. It is also planned to install kiosks at all KSRTC depots to facilitate employees to obtain leave and other service particulars," the CM announced.
Truck terminals: The CM announced that the first Logistic Park of the State will come up on National Highway-63 on 56.13 acres at Anchetageri village in Hubli. "It is proposed to establish new truck terminals in Raichur, Hospet, Karwar, Mangaluru, Hassan and Humnabad," he announced.
Following the recent protests from the school van and drivers union, Siddaramaiah announced 50% concession in Motor Vehicle Tax for Maxi Cabs exclusively carrying school children, which was one of the union’s demands.
Raw deal: The budget comes as a big shock for the BMTC and KSRTC which were expecting financial support. An officer told this newspaper that while on the one hand there is stiff resistance to any fare revision, on the other hand there is no support for the transport bodies announced in the budget.