From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 11: The State Cabinet has decided to extend 5 per cent subsidy on interest on loans availed to set up M-sand units in districts which lack natural sand resources as part of the measure to encourage production of manufacture sand (M-Sand) in Karnataka.

This decision was taken by the State Cabinet at its meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to grant interest subsidy for conversion of crushers units into M-Sand and to promote production of M-Sand in districts.

The decision was taken following depletion of groundwater in rivers and water bodies owing to extraction of natural sand by the sand mafia.

The Cabinet has also authorised the Chief Minister to recommend nominations from the State for Padma awards to be conferred on the eve Republic Day-2016.

It has approved construction of four lane road from Gun House in Mysuru City to Nanjangud road junction on NH-212 at an estimated cost of Rs 17.20 crore.

The State Cabinet also approved construction of Bengaluru Rural District office complex, including Zilla Panchayat, at Beerasandra village of Kundana Hobli in Devanahalli taluk at a cost of Rs 43 crore.

The cabinet approved continuation of the Bhagyalakshmi scheme from April 2015 to March 31, 2016, in collaboration with Life Insurance Corporation of India at financial partner institute.