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Through the policy, the government aims to create one million new jobs in the next five years, Governor H R Bhardwaj said.
“In order to create more employment and project the State as a preferred destination for investors, a Global Investors’ Meet is planned during the month of October 2014. In order to facilitate investors, a facility will be provided to file the applications and to obtain all approvals / licenses online from various stakeholders,” he told the joint session of the legislature, here today.
In the current financial year, for the period ended December 2013, more than Rs 35,000 crore of revenue has been collected under commercial taxes and excise, recording a growth in excess of 12% over the corresponding period in the previous year, he said.
“All efforts are being made to meet the revenue targets, so as to ensure meaningful implementation of the development programmes being undertaken by the government,” Bhardwaj said.
e-Governance initiatives
In the area of e-Governance, the government would be establishing common service centres (CSC) and E-district programmes in all the Gram Panchayats to deliver government to citizen and business to citizen services. The state is set to launch mobile services to offer over 250 services on cell phones to its citizen and this will progressively cover all citizens, he said.
“I am happy to report that under the existing e-procurement programme over Rs 50,000 crore worth of procurement business is carried out every year which makes it one of the largest in India,” the governor said.
Curbs on illegal mining
He said stringent measures have been put in place to curb illegal mining and transportation of mineral wealth and the government has come out with a new legislation on stone crushers and quarrying. Prompt action has been taken on the report of Lokayukta on illegal iron ore mining, to ensure that the guilty are punished.
As per the Supreme Court orders, the state is committed to formulate and implement suitable reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plans for mining affected districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur. The state government has assigned the task of formulation of R&R plans to the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), he said.
Thrust on infrastructure
A large number of infrastructural development projects are being taken up to improve the transport sector in major cities. Besides, new energy-efficient vehicles are being introduced to meet the public demand across the state.
“It is proposed to achieve energy sufficiency during the coming years by adding 3,880 Mw capacity. Special emphasis on usage of renewable energy sources is being laid while reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses in distribution,” the governor said.
The government intends to improve the connectivity in the state including rail, air and maritime sectors. Ongoing railway projects will be completed on priority basis. The government has supported setting up of rail coach factory at Kolar and Yadgir. The Hubli-Ankola Railway Line and Tadadi port will be taken forward, in coordination with government of India, he said.
Infrastructure sector will be strengthened by taking up signature projects such as city Gas Distribution (CGD) for clean fuel, Bangalore International Convention Centre (BIC) and Devanahalli Business Park (DBP). A policy on minor airports is being prepared for improving the regional air connectivity in the state, he said.
Bangalore Metro Rail
Bhardwaj said the Bangalore Metro Rail Project is being pursued vigorously. The section between Peenya Village Station and Nagasandra is scheduled for commissioning in the month of August 2014. The entire east-west corridor between Baiyappanahalli and Mysore Road Terminal is likely to be opened for public by the end of 2014, he added.
