Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 2: The Union government has released an additional tax devolution of Rs 3,705 crore to Karnataka as part of a bumper allocation to all states during the festive season of Dasara and Deepavali, union minister Pralhad Joshi announced.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive, the Union Finance Ministry released Rs 1,01,603 crore as an advance instalment of tax devolution to all 28 states on Wednesday night. This is in addition to the regular monthly share due on October 10. Joshi said the move is aimed at boosting capital expenditure, development projects, and welfare programmes across states.

He urged the Karnataka government to utilise the funds effectively for development works.

Support for farmers

Joshi further highlighted that farmers across Karnataka, particularly in North and Kalyan Karnataka, have suffered heavy crop losses due to excessive rains. He said the Centre has ensured minimum support price (MSP) benefits for a range of crops and called on the state government to make sure these benefits reach farmers.

Recently, the Centre had extended MSP support for paddy, urad, soybean, and groundnut. Now, ahead of the upcoming rabi marketing season, the government has also announced higher MSPs for wheat, mustard, gram, barley, masoor, and other crops.

Joshi stressed that it is the responsibility of the Karnataka government to ensure that farmers in rain-affected regions get the benefit of these revised support prices.