Bengaluru: The state Cabinet on Thursday approved the industrial policy for 2014-2019 incorporating the suggestion of the Dr Sarojini Mahishi committee report on reservation for locals in industries. It also gave its okay for extending VAT and CST concessions for companies investing in the state for seven to 14 years in the form of interest- free loans and for amending the Land Reforms Act to give deemed conversion status to land bought for industrial purposes.
In another far reaching decision it was decided to do away with the trade license system for small and medium enterprises while laying out the red carpet for Non Resident Indian Kannadigas.
The Cabinet felt it neccessary to consult the law department before taking a call on handing over the investigation of the multi-crore District Cooperative banks scam to the CBI. Five banks, including the Shimoga DCC bank are under the scanner for irregularities in non-statutory liquidity reserve investment. The Cabinet which discussed the scam on Thursday, talked about handing it over to the CBI, but later decided to look into the pros and cons first, according to sources.
The state appears to be looking into the scale of the scam and the Supreme Court ruling which says all financial frauds by banking institutions must be probed by the CBI and not a local investigating agency Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, law and parliamentary affairs minister, T B Jayachandra said the issue was raised by the home department without the consent of the cooperative department and so the law department had been told to take the consent of both departments before placing it before the Cabinet again.
Meanwhile, even as the fate over 360 candidates hangs in the balance, the Cabinet gave the green signal for recruiting 452 A and B grade gazetted probationers. Mr Jayachandra said the recruitment would follow the procedure laid down by the P C Hota Committee and the government would ensure there were no irregularities in the process.
The Cabinet also decided to bring out new guidelines for premature release of life convicts and placing them before the Supreme Court for approval.It was also decided to establish 44 quarantine camps in the districts bordering other states to ensure that no disease affected cattle enter Karnataka.
The other decisions include submission of three annual reports of the Karnataka Lokayukta to the Governor, approval of NOCs to three private medical colleges in the state, construction of 10000 houses for poor as announced in the Budget, leasing of 8000 sq meters of harbour area to Lakshadweep for 30 years for building a jetty, administrative approval for the revised estimation of Rs 33.69 crore for construction of bridge between Bellary and Roopanagudi.
