by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore
- Arrack ban from July 1
- Lottery ban from April 1
- Ugadi gift to Govt. staff: Implemen-tation of V Pay Panel report
- Tax on two-wheelers, cars hiked.
- Music Varsity in Mysore.
- Short-term farm loan waived.
- Engg. Colleges in Chamarajanagar, Kushalnagar, Bellary and Raichur
- Hot meals upto 10th standard
- Tax on bars, wine stores, clubs, star hotels hiked
- Simple marriage: Rs. 10,000 deposit to the bride
- Freedom fighters pension: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000.
Bangalore, Mar 16: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who also holds Finance portfolio, today presented the second budget of the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government for the year 2007-08.
As a Ugadi gift, he announced the implementation of V Pay Commission recommendations revising the salaries of State Government employees from April 1.
There is a gift for Ugadi for Mysore also. Yediyurappa announced that the University of Music will be started in Mysore during the new financial year.
As the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister repeatedly announced since a few months now, Yediyurappa announced in his budget speech that the Government will ban arrack sale in the State from July1.
He also announced that Karnataka will be lottery-free State from April 1. All the lotteries including on-line and other States will be banned in the State.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that short-term crop loans upto Rs. 25,000 taken by the farmers from Co-operative Institutions will be waived.
The interest on the loans of other farmers will be waived if they repay the loans of current year within Mar. 31.
The owners of two-wheelers and cars will have to bear additional burden from April 1.
Yediyurappa said that to regulate the increasing number of registration of two-wheelers and cars, the tax on these vehicles will be heavily increased. He announced hike in taxes on bars, wine stores, clubs and star hotels.
Engineering colleges
The Deputy Chief Minister disclosed that the polytechnics in Chamarajanagar, Kushalnagar, Bellary and Raichur will be upgraded into engineering colleges.
Chair on Kodagu kings
To conduct studies on the contribution of Kodagu kings, the Government will set up a chair in Mangalore University.
The Deputy Chief Minister also announced a sanction of Rs. 3 crore for the Dr. Rajkumar Memorial in Bangalore.
To promote simple marriages, the Government will pay a deposit of Rs. 10,000 to the bride who weds in simple ceremonies.
Tyagis pension
Freedom fighters will get a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 instead of the existing Rs. 1,500.
Update: Friday, 5-30 pm
Karnataka doubles licence fee for bar, shops and hotels
Bangalore: The Karnataka Government has doubled the licence fee levied on retail shops, clubs, star hotels and bars with effect from July 1 in an attempt to recover the revenue loss of about Rs 2,000 crores caused by banning of arrack sale.
In his 2007-08 budget proposals presented to the state assembly, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced hike in licence fee for retail shops from Rs 2.23 lac to Rs 4.46 lac in city municipal corporation areas having more than 20 lac population.
In other City Municipal Corporation areas, the fee has been enhanced to Rs 3,64,000 from Rs 1,82,000, in City Municpal Council areas to Rs 3,30,000 from Rs 1,65,000, Town Municipal Council/Town Panchayat areas to Rs 2,50,000 from Rs 1,25,000 and in other areas to Rs 2 lakhs from Rs 1 lac.
Clubs located in cities will bear the major burnt as their licence fee has been stepped up to Rs 5 lac from Rs 1.5 lakhs, while those in other City Municipal Corporation areas will have to pay Rs 4 lac as against the existing Rs 1 lac.
Club fees in City municipal council areas will be Rs 3 lac (from Rs 80,000), Town Municipal Council/Town Panchayat areas from Rs 60,000 to Rs 2.5 lac and in other areas Rs 2 lac from Rs 50,000. In respect of hotels and boarding houses and refreshment rooms (Bar), the fee has also been doubled.