Karnataka govt approves distribution of laptops worth about Rs 17 crore for SC trainees of ITIs
Bengaluru, Dec 12: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday gave administrative approval for procurement and distribution of laptops free of cost to Schedule Caste trainees (Final Year) of government aided and private ITI's for 2019-20, at an outlay of about Rs 17 crores.
"5,331 laptops will be procured at an estimated cost of Rs 16.98 crores," Law and Parliamentary Affairs MInister J C Madhuswamy said after the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet also gave approval for construction of tourist plaza at Pattadakal, an UNESCO World Heritage site in Bagalkot district at estimated cost of Rs 29.25 crore for tourism development.
"The plaza will come up over an area of 24 acres on the banks of river Malaprabha.
It is aimed at creating infrastructure facilities with an intention of making Pattadakallu tourism spot of global standards," the Minister said.
It would include restaurant, open air theater, amphitheater, toilets, stalls, information and conference centres, landscaping, digital interpretation centre among others under one roof.
Among other decisions taken at the meeting include, constitution of cabinet sub committee to make suitable recommendations to amend the Bangalore Development Authority Act, aimed at regularising, irregular or unauthorised constructions in BDA layouts.
Ratification of the action taken for orders issued on November 7, giving administrative approval to the DPR for construction of Chikkaballapura medical college at a cost of Rs 525 crore was also among the other decisions taken on Thursday.
The cabinet has also approved provision of government guarantee for Rs 1,550 crore to Karnataka State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development (KSCARD) Bank limited for availing NABARD refinance during the year 2019-20.
The Minister said, cabinet has asked the irrigation department to look into a proposal by a private trust to rejuvenate Dakshina Pinakini river at the cost ofRs 2600 crore in a phased manner, with the help of various philanthropic, CSR funds, and banks.
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MP cruise boat tragedy: Death toll rises to nine; search ops continue at Bargi Dam
Jabalpur (PTI): The death toll in the Bargi Dam tragedy rose to nine on Friday, as rescuers recovered the bodies of five more persons who were on the cruise boat that overturned in the reservoir in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur.
Talking to PTI Videos, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Minister Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi said, "Four bodies were recovered on Thursday, while five were found in the early hours during the rescue operation, taking the toll to nine."
As many as 22 people have been rescued so far, he said.
The minister said that a thorough probe will be conducted, and the issue of life jackets, raised by one of the survivors, will also be investigated.
The rescue operation is underway in full swing to trace the missing persons, Lodhi said.
A cruise boat with 29 passengers and two crew members onboard overturned in the Bargi Dam after encountering a sudden storm on Thursday evening, officials said.
The Bargi Dam is constructed on the Narmada River in Jabalpur district.
A search and rescue operation for the missing passengers continued overnight with teams from the Army, NDRF and SDRF joining in, State PWD Minister Rakesh Singh said.
Hydraulic cranes are being used to pull out the cruise boat from the water body, he said.
According to eyewitnesses, strong winds made the water choppy, prompting many on board to raise an alarm and ask the crew to steer the boat back to the banks.
However, the crew was unable to hear these shouts, and the boat drifted and then overturned, they said, adding that some locals rescued a few passengers wearing life jackets with the help of a rope.
