Karnataka govt approves cyber security policy
Bengaluru, Aug 10: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the cyber security policy aimed at curbing cyber crimes in the state and promoting data privacy.
It also gave administrative approval for the Centre of Excellence for Aerospace and Defence at a cost of Rs 391 crore at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) campus here, for research and studies.
''The cabinet has approved Karnataka Cyber Security Policy 2023-24. The main intention of this policy is to reduce the cyber crime rate in the state which is increasing and create awareness among people about cyber security and data privacy,'' Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said.
Briefing reporters about cabinet decisions, he said, under this policy the state government, local bodies and panchayats have to implement the awareness programmes from time to time, and evaluate them.
''Also to have surveys regarding cyber security and data privacy. New softwares of the state government, online banking and technical education and training programmes in this regard will come under its ambit,'' he said, adding that the policy in the days to come will help in prevention and detection of cyber crimes, and to streamline the measures that need to be taken.
Asked whether the licensing for digital platforms come under the policy, the Minister said, it will not come as it largely deals with cyber protection.
Responding to a question, he said, ''it may also deal with fake news, though there is no specific mention in this regard.'' On the Centre of Excellence, the Minister said: ''It will be a software based learning lab system, it will be like a 3D digital lab and experience centre on Aerospace and Defence''. It was approved in 2017, the project started in 2020 and total operations are being started now. Noting that the centre of excellence is under PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model with Dassault Systemes contributing Rs 250 crore, he said the other stakeholders are: Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Bio Technology and Science & Technology through Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and VTU.
The cabinet has also approved escalation in the cost of construction of Super Specialty Hospital coming up in the premises of Belagavi Medical College to Rs 187 crore. Earlier, the cost of the project was 140 crore.
Also administrative nod for Rs 30.74 crore was given to have vehicle tracking and panic button system, along with centralised control room, for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation vehicles.
It was also decided to procure sunflower oil instead of palm oil for preparation of nutritious food at Anganwadis; the procurement will be made at an estimated cost of Rs 66.04 crore.
''Tenders will be called for this and for this switchover to sunflower there will be additional expenditure of Rs 9.9 crores,'' Patil said, adding that there are complaints about palm oil, and sunflower oils are easily available in the state.
It was resolved to constitute a cabinet sub committee to look into levying property taxes on illegal constructions or buildings or properties with violations, and disputed lands under Mahanagara Palikes and urban local bodies in the state.
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Karnataka procured 16 lakh expired RT-PCR kits during Covid wave: D’Cunha commission
Bengaluru: Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s committee has uncovered significant irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that more than 16 lakh RT-PCR test kits purchased by Karnataka in 2022 under the BJP-led government were either expired or close to their expiry dates.
After irregularities in PPE kit purchases, ventilators have also come under the scanner, with the report highlighting discrepancies amounting to Rs 173.26 crore in purchases made by the Medical Education Department.
The commission has also found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) that cancelled a supply order for one lakh Rapid Antigen (RAT) kits placed with a Singapore-based company in March 2020 — for delay in supplying — has not recovered the Rs 6.99 crore paid to the company towards the order, as reported by The Hindu on Thursday.
According to the 279-page report on procurements made by the KSMSCL that is compiled in part IV of the report, a payment of Rs 148.84 crore was made by KSMSCL to various suppliers and firms towards procurement of RT-PCR kits from 2020 to 2022.
The Commission’s report, as cited by the publication, stated that there were records indicating procurement of RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and Viral transport media (VTM) of a total value of Rs 106.25 crore during the pandemic in Karnataka. However, according to the report, this procurement was made without administrative approval.
“Since the KSMSCL has failed to discharge its obligation and responsibility, the loss caused to the State exchequer to this extent is required to be replenished by the erring officers and/or officials of the KSMSCL as well as the officers and/or officials of the consignee designated laboratories who received the consignment,” the report said, pegging the losses due to expired kits supplied by companies at Rs 3.11 crore.
In response to the report’s findings, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticised the saffron party for profiting from the pandemic. He promised accountability for the irregularities involving PPE kits and ventilators, stating that those responsible would face punishment.
