BANGALORE: The financial health of the State is sound and there is no dearth of funds for budgeted works, Minister for Finance and Industries P.G.R. Sindhia has said.

The Government on Saturday released Rs. 1,250 crores in one tranche in advance to gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats as per budgetary commitments. Mr. Sindhia told presspersons here that he will tour all districts from October to monitor the utilisation of funds.

Grants of Rs. 809.87 crores under the plan scheme and Rs. 1,269.04 crores under the non-plan scheme have been earmarked for zilla panchayats this year, and Rs. 3,169.19 crores has been allocated to taluk panchayats. He said funds for planned works are being released to a schedule drawn up by the Finance Department.

In connection with the Dasara celebrations, the PWD has been granted Rs. 2.5 crores for roadworks and renovation of government guesthouses in Mysore, the Youth Services Department Rs. 50 lakhs for the Dasara sports meet, and the Kannada and Culture Department Rs. 50 lakhs for cultural programmes.

Mr. Sindhia announced the Finance Departments's plan to release Rs. 623 crores to the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. for completion of the Upper Krishna Project as per the budget proposals.

The Finance Department has given its consent for the establishment of six permanent Lok Adalatsas sought by the Law Department. .

The Lok Adalats will come up in Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad, Belgaum, Mangalore and Gulbarga, and Rs. 4 crores has been allocated for their recurring and non-recurring expenditure.

Mr. Sindhia said the Finance Department has approved the appointment of 1,347 nursesto ensure the availability of medical service round-the-clock in backward taluks.

The Health Department has been given an additional grant of Rs. 4 crores for payment of a monthly salary of Rs. 3,000 to nurses.

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