2 hrs ago

Karnataka Cabinet Approves Fodder Aid and 4,500 Electric Buses

The Karnataka government approved money to help farmers and animals during a serious drought.

It will spend Rs 25 crore on buying and growing fodder and distributing fodder seeds.

The state will also receive 4,500 electric buses through a central government programme.

These buses will operate in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka.

Karnataka will pay for maintaining the buses, but officials said the state will not contribute to their purchase.

The Cabinet said 101 areas are already officially drought-hit.

More areas may be added after another review.

The government also approved plans for better hospitals, roads, irrigation, education and regional air travel.

Officials hope additional rainfall in September will improve water and fodder availability.

Key facts

Fodder assistance: Rs 25 crore for fodder purchase and cultivation and distribution of fodder seed kits.
Electric buses: 4,500 buses approved under the Centre’s PM E-DRIVE programme.
Drought-hit taluks: 101 taluks have been declared drought-hit; another 50-60 may qualify.
Agricultural exports: Rs 59 crore over three years for exporter assistance, market facilities and quality assurance.
Hospital digitisation: Rs 46 crore to digitally integrate 182 government hospitals.
Trauma care: About Rs 46 crore for 100 basic life-support ambulances, three CT scanners and 13 portable brain-injury detection devices.
UVCE development: Rs 249 crore to develop Visvesvaraya University College of Engineering, Bengaluru, on the lines of an IIT.
Rural bank guarantee: Rs 2,000 crore government guarantee for refinancing through NABARD during 2026-27.

theprint.in · 2 hrs ago