Bangalore: The Government has come up with a new industrial policy with focus on developing industrial areas across the State.

The policy, which was approved by the State Cabinet here on Thursday, is expected to be launched on August 29 by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Minister for Major and Medium Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu.

The policy will be in force till 2011. The earlier policy was valid till April last.

Briefing presspersons on the proceedings at the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti said as part of the new policy, Rs. 500 crore would be set apart for upgrading infrastructure in all industrial parks promoted by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.

A high-level Industrial Development Council would be constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to monitor industrial development and investment.

Apart from the Industries Minister, others who would be part of the council are senior officials of departments concerned, industrial experts and the representatives of trade and industry. Stress would be laid on completion of various industrial parks including apparel, food and textiles parks which were in various stages of implementation, Mr. Horatti said.

HRD programmes

A committee would also be constituted to promote human resource development (HRD) and a special fund of Rs. 25 crore would be provided for implementing HRD programmes.

The other important decision of the Cabinet included declaring 102 taluks of the State drought-hit based on the reports received from the deputy commissioners of the districts concerned.

There were two to five taluks which have been classified drought-prone in 20 districts of the State.

The Finance Department has been directed to provide funds sought by the deputy commissioners to arrange drinking water and fodder for animals sought by the people in drought-hit taluks. Mr. Horatti said the Cabinet directed the district in-charge ministers to hold discussions with local legislators and officials and provide assistance to people in drought-hit villages.

Weekly review

A cabinet subcommittee under the chairmanship of Minister for Revenue Jagadish Shettar had been constituted to meet every week and review the situation in drought-hit villages and look into the assistance that need to be provided. Other members of the Cabinet sub-committee were Minister for Public Works Department H.D. Revanna, Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur, Minister for Horticulture Shashikanth Naik and Minister for Animal Husbandry Revu Naik.

The Cabinet also approved upgrading of major hospitals in the districts of Hassan, Mandya, Belgaum, Shimoga, Raichur and Bidar at a cost of over Rs. 750 crore. While Rs. 309 crore had been approved in the current budget, the rest would be spent over the next four years.

The hospitals were being upgraded to ensure that the Government could start more medical colleges over the next few years. The upgradation had been necessitated so that the facilities in the hospitals were in consonance with standards prescribed by the Medical Council of India.

The Cabinet approved the upgradation of the Government Victoria Hospital and the Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bangalore at a cost of Rs. 48 crore and Rs. 79 crore respectively.

KPSC members

Mr. Horatti said the number of members of the Karnataka Public Service commission was raised to eight from the existing seven and the new appointments would be made by the Chief Minister in consultation with the Deputy Chief Minister.

Permission was granted to the Kalinga Institute of Technology of Orissa to set up an off-campus centre in Bangalore.

A drinking water scheme for 53 villages (at a cost of Rs. 14.6 crore) of Nanjangud taluk in Mysore district was approved, he said.

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