The Hindu : Karnataka News : Budget gives priority to transportation, education

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Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Budget gives priority to transportation, education

Staff Reporter

Proposal for veterinary medical college in State

Stadium to be set up at Kothamangalam
Coconut nursery at Neriamangalam

KOCHI: The Ernakulam district panchayat has passed a surplus budget of Rs.1.95 crore for the year 2008-09 with maximum allocation being made for transportation, education and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

A major proposal in the budget was to develop the district veterinary hospital in Ernakulam into an ultra modern veterinary medical college, the first in the State.

The budget proposed to set up a stadium at Kothamangalam. Solid waste treatment plants would be set up in more centres and incinerator for treatment of solid waste would be set up at centres already operational. The budget also proposed to set up 2,000 individual biogas plants at the household-level.

A coconut nursery would be set up at the farm owned by the panchayat at Neriamangalam.

The budget set apart maximum allocation of Rs.5.46 crore for transportation, while education received Rs.5.45 crore. Demonstrating its commitment to the NREGS, the budget allocated Rs.4 crore for the scheme. The building for the district Ayurveda hospital would be completed this year.

Agriculture was also given importance, as the panchayat proposed to bring five acres of land in its farm in Okkal under vegetable cultivation. Cashew farming in 200 acres of land at the Neriamangalam farm was also on the cards.

The panchayat had given shape to a massive project for paddy farming and proposed to implement it through farming communities, Kudumbasree and self-help groups. The proposal was to identify barren land and implement comprehensive group farming.

Pepper cultivation in association with Horticulture Mission at the Okkal farm and developing new varieties of coconut saplings at the Vytilla farm were also proposed. There was a proposal to set up high tech labs in all government higher secondary schools. Multimedia classrooms for utilising EDUSAT facility were also proposed. Computers and furniture would be supplied to all government high schools in the district.

Swimming training proposed in the last budget but could not be taken up would be started during this summer vacation.

A selected centre in Paravur and Pampakkuda MTM High School would serve as training centres.

Legal literacy programmes had been planned in all high schools under the district panchayat in association with the State Legal Service and grama panchayats concerned. Another major proposal was to set up rainwater harvesting units in all government schools.

A housing project covering the tribal community in Kuttampuzha panchayat would be implemented in a phased-manner.

The budget allocated funds for setting up ‘Pakalveedu’ at important centres for senior citizens to get-together during daytime. An ultra modern soil-testing lab would be completed at Kakkanad.

The benefits of a revolving fund would be made available to dairy farmers and dairy units. Equipment would be distributed to dairy units at subsidies rates. Besides, distribution of computers to dairy units in the district would be expanded during the year.

Fisher folks would benefit from fish landing centres proposed by the panchayat at important centres.

Various tourism projects exploring the scenic beauty of the district were being proposed. More roads and bridges had also been planned. Sports kits will be supplied to clubs in villages to encourage promotion of a sports culture.

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