From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, July 9: With continuous spike in the COVID 19 infection cases in Bengaluru since the last few days, Chief Miniter B S Yediyurappa on Thursday decided to appoint cabinet ministers as in-charge for each of the eight zones in the city for effectively managing the pandemic.

A State Cabinet meeting held with Yediyurappa in the chair discussed the Corona virus situation in Bengaluru and the State in detail.

Briefing reporters after the State Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said the meeting authorized the Chief Minister to take decisive steps to contain the pandemic and entrust cabinet ministers to exclusively take care of each of the zones in the city for better and effective management of the situation.

Ministers from Bengaluru city will be appointed for each of the eight administrative zones in Bengaluru under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Madhuswamy said.

He said a sum of Rs 207.98 to be released to the Health and Family Welfare department for purchase beds, high flow oxygen devices, and other civil and electricity related works in taluk and district level COVID-19 hospitals.

The State Cabinet also decided to hire services of Boston Consulting Group India Private Limited, MNC, for one-year period for bringing investment to the State. It was decided to pay fees of Rs 12 crore and GST to the firm for its service.

The Boston Consulting Group India Private Limited, MNC, would act as a knowledge partner to the Stage Government and work out strategies for attracting investment to the state, both from global and domestic investors.

Interest-free loan of Rs 2,500 for 5 ESCOMs
 
The Cabinet decided to provide interest free loan of Rs 2500 crore for five electricity supply companies for payment of outstanding power purchase dues for generating companies. Loans of Rs 500 crore would be given to BESCOM, Rs 400 crore to HESCOM, Rs 1000 crore to GESCOM, and Rs 600 crore loan to CHESCOM.

Madhuswamy said administration and management of two government companies - Mysore Electrical Industries and KAVIKA - electricity equipment manufacturing firms would be shifted from Commerce and Industries Department to the Energy Department of the State for purchase of equipment by the energy department.

The State Cabinet also approved the development an airport at Vijayapura at a cost of Rs 220 crore.

A sum of Rs 95 crore would be released in the first phase for ground levelling, and construction works. The new airport would be ready in two years, the minister said.

Weightage of marks will be considered for selection of contract doctors hired in the Health and Family Welfare Department and 2.5 marks for six month service and maximum marks up to 30 would be given for each doctor. 

A total of 507 contract doctors have been demoing regularization of their service, Madhuswamy said.

It was decided to reduce cess levied at APMC yards from 1.5 % to 1 %. The changes in the AMPC Act has enabled farmers to sell commodities outside the APMC yards also, Madhuswamy said.

In another decision, the State Cabinet decided to amend the Section 9 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act for mandating the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayuktas to complete preliminary investigation within three six months and filing charge-sheets in six months.