Bangalore, Feb 12: The Karnataka government today announced various concessions to farmers, including low-interest loans by the district cooperative banks and setting up of a one-man commission for revision of pay scales to government employees. Chief Minister S M Krishna, in his reply to a discussion on the budget estimates for 2004-05, told the state assembly that the DCBs would offer loans to farmers at 8.5 per cent interest from the next fiscal.
The government will revive the Hyderabad-Karnataka area development board, Malnad area development and the dryland development board, following members demand not to wind them up.
He said that the farmers who wanted new connection for their irrigation pumpsets would have to pay Rs 25,000 in two instalments and those with legal connection would now have to pay two equal instalments of rs 8250 each to get a transformer of their own. More than 4,000 irrigation pumpsets would be installed in next fortnight under the Ganga Kalyana Scheme.

Also 8,000 new connections under the 'Kutra Jyothi Scheme' would be given involving an investment of Rs 200 crore. The rural electrification corporation had already provided funds for the purpose, he added.
The Chief Minister said that more over 80,000 anganwadi workers were on rolls of the state and the government had decided to distribute 50,000 houses to them in next two years. Agricultural income tax exemption announced for the small and medium coffee growers would continue for this year too.
Also penal interest on loans would be waived if the defaulter came forward to clear the loan amount. Fishermen in coastal areas would be exempted from payment of sales tax on diesel purchased for fishing activities.
Bureau Report