Karnataka may slash education, health spends to fund Rs 75k-Cr Upper Krishna Project: Report
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government may be forced to cut spending on key sectors such as education, healthcare, and urban development in order to fund the ambitious Rs 75,000-crore Upper Krishna Project (UKP), according to an internal note from the state’s finance department, cited by Deccan Herald on Thursday.
The UKP will require an additional expenditure of Rs 75,000 crore over the next four years, roughly Rs 18,000 crore annually, based on new compensation rates approved by the Cabinet for acquisition of 1.33 lakh acres.
According to the internal note which DH said it reviewed, the finance department stated that money for the project could be raised by implementing a 20% cut in the Rs 80,197 crore developmental outlay (excluding ‘guarantee’ schemes and committed expenditure), which would free up Rs 16,039 crore. These cuts would impact department-wise allocations for education, health, urban development, and other sectors.
Alternatively, if developmental allocations are not reduced, the state may have to scale down some of its flagship initiatives. This includes revisiting allocations under the government’s ‘guarantee’ schemes and subsidies for irrigation pump sets. This year alone, Rs 51,034 crore has been allocated towards guarantee schemes. To bridge the gap, around Rs 15,000 crore could be redirected from these programs, the report added.
Under the UKP, the height of the Almatti Dam will be raised to irrigate 5.94 lakh hectares in Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Koppal and Gadag districts, making it a significant project for north Karnataka.
Fund cuts are the only way forward as resource mobilisation reportedly seems unviable. The finance department mentioned that Karnataka recorded a revenue shortfall of Rs 7,413 crore in the first five months of the current fiscal year. The state is also expected to lose Rs 6,000 crore due to GST rationalisation and an additional Rs 3,000 crore in mining tax revenue, as President Draupadi Murmu has not approved the enabling law.
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Devine’s all-round brilliance trumps Nandini’s hat-trick as GG edge DC by 4 runs
Navi Mumbai (PTI): Nandini Sharma’s maiden hat-trick went in vain as Sophie Devine starred with a breathtaking 95 and a superb final over under pressure to steer Gujarat Giants to a thrilling four-run win off the last ball over Delhi Capitals in a Women’s Premier League match here on Sunday.
This was Gujarat Giants' second win on the trot, while DC slipped to their second loss.
Sent in to bat, Giants opener Devine smashed seven fours and eight sixes in her 42-ball knock, adding 94 runs for the opening wicket with Beth Mooney (19) to set the platform.
Skipper Ashleigh Gardner kept the momentum going with a brisk 49 off 26 balls, but Nandini turned the tide with remarkable figures of 5 for 33, including a hat-trick, as Gujarat were bowled out for 209.
Chasing a stiff target, opener Lizelle Lee struck a scintillating 86 off 54 balls, studded with 12 fours and three sixes. She put on 41 runs with Shafali Verma (14) before adding 90 off 55 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (77 off 38) to keep Delhi firmly in the hunt.
Once Lee was dismissed by Kashvee Gautam (1/48) in the 15th over, Rajeshwari Gayakwad removed Chinelle Henry (7) to leave Delhi at 146 for three.
Needing 64 off the last 25 balls, skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (15) joined Wolvaardt as the pair plundered 58 runs in 23 balls to bring the equation down to seven off the final five deliveries.
Devine then returned to the spotlight, dismissing both batters and conceding just two runs in the final over to seal a dramatic win.
Earlier, Devine set the tone early, striking three fours off Chinelle Henry before taking Nandini apart with two fours and a six in the fourth over. She was particularly severe on Sneh Rana, hammering two fours and four successive sixes in an over that yielded 32 runs and powered Gujarat Giants to 80 without loss in the powerplay.
The New Zealander brought up her half-century in just 25 balls before Shree Charani broke the opening stand with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort in the ninth over to remove Mooney. Devine briefly regained control, hitting Charani for three sixes, but fell in the 11th over bowled by Nandini Sharma.
Skipper Ashleigh Gardner kept Gujarat Giants on course with a brisk 49 off 26 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes to take the side past the 200-mark.
Jemimah Rodrigues pulled off a fine catch to dismiss Georgia Wareham (3), while Henry removed Gardner and Bharti Fulmali (3).
Nandini then capped a memorable outing by picking up four wickets in the final over, including three off the last three balls, to complete her maiden hat-trick.
