From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, May 29: A month-long session of Karnataka Legislature will be held from June 30.
The State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday decided to have a session of 30 working days from June 23 to July 30.
The decision to hold a 30-day-long session is part of the State Ggovernment’s plans to hold the legislature session for 60 days in a year.
Department-wise budget proposals and performances would be discussed during the session and the minister of the department concerned would reply to the House.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, who briefed reporters after the cabinet meeting, said that the Cabinet has approved a Karnataka Tank Authority Bill to set up a state-level Tank Authority for protection and revival of tanks.
The Authority covers all tanks in the State, except tanks located in the City corporation limits.
The Lake Development Authority has been monitoring tanks located in the city corporation limits so far.
A legislative bill would be tabled during the next session envisaging filing of criminal cases against persons indulged in encroachment of tank beds.
Under the proposed Bill, persons found guilty would get punishment of up to six months.
A decision was taken to provide government guarantee to the Markandeya Sugar Factory in Belgaum to raise a loan from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
The State Cabinet has decided to appoint retired IAS officer D N Naik as the Special Officer to the Karnataka Permanent Backward Classes Commission for a period of one year with the specific responsibility of conducting caste-wise survey in the State.
It was also decided to sanction Rs 50 crore to Hutti Gold Mines, Raichur, for installing 1000 tonnes per day capacity Ball Mills and take up modernisation works.
The State Government has decided to wage arrears as per the fourth pay commission to Group 'C’ and 'D’ employees of the Mysore Minerals Limited (MML).
Jayachandra said that 728 Group 'C’ and 3400 Group 'D’ employees would get arrears for seven year period (April 1, 1998- September 30, 2005).
The decision would cost Rs 11 crore to the State exchequer.
Group A and B employees would get arrears amounting Rs 2 crore.
Other employees against whom the probe was ordered following irregularities in the company would not get arrears, he said.
Under the tuition fee waiver scheme for admission of students for technical courses in 2014-15, he said the government would reimburse tuition fee of students belonging to families whose annual income is below Rs 6 lakh.
Earlier, the income limit was Rs 2.5 lakh a year.
In 2013-14, a total of 4819 and 4523 engineering and diploma students respectively, benefited under the scheme, he said.