Special incentives for oxygen manufacturing units in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jul 16: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved a scheme to provide special incentives for Oxygen Manufacturing and Associated Enterprises in the State.
Pointing out that the state had faced a shortage of oxygen due to COVID, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Bommai said there were 9 oxygen manufacturing units/factories in the state and six oxygen suppliers.
"The manufacturing capacity is 815 MT and storage capacity is 5,780 MT.To increase the capacity, if any entrepreneurs come forward, we will give them incentives," he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
The incentives include capital subsidy of 25 per cent of the value of fixed assets subjected to minimum investment of Rs 10 crore, 100 per cent exemption from electricity duty for three years after commencement of commercial production, additional power tariff subsidy of Rs 1,000 per metric tonne on supply to the government.
There will also be 100 per cent stamp duty exemption and reimbursement from loan and land documents, concessional registration charges, 100 per cent reimbursement of land conversion fees, he added.
The cabinet also decided on premature release of 139 prisoners sentenced to life from central prisons in the state on the grounds of good behaviour.
"It will go to the Governor for approval," Bommai said.
Other decisions taken by the cabinet include administrative approval for establishing Goshalas in all the districts of the state at a total cost of Rs 15 crore in the first phase to supplement the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020.
"The cabinet has decided to release additional funds, depending on the progress of the work," Bommai said.
The cabinet has also approved Rs 48 crore for the implementation of crop survey project during 2022 kharif season, with the help of a mobile app, in which farmers will themselves share the information. If the farmers cannot do it on their own, they can seek the help of private or government staff deployed for this purpose,the minister said.
Other decisions include considering the Karnataka State Job Oriented Courses (JOC) as equivalent to PUC ( pre- university course), to bring the Karnataka Prison Development Board Bill 2021 before the legislature, approval for construction of buildings for KGTTI (Karnataka Germany Technical Training Institutes) at Belagavi (Rs 16.43 crore) and Mangaluru (Rs 15.23 crore).
The cabinet gave its approval for installing a statue of 12th century social reformer Basavanna on the premises of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the State legislature and Secretariat in Bengaluru, by the Kannada and Culture Department.
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Annamalai left out of BJP’s candidate list for Tamil Nadu polls, party cites High Command decision
Chennai/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, triggering political discussion after the absence of former state president K Annamalai from the roster.
Despite being widely seen as the party’s most prominent face in the state and a key figure in its southern expansion strategy, Annamalai was not fielded in the list. Senior leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union Minister L. Murugan from Avinashi, have been nominated.
Responding to questions on the omission, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership. He expressed confidence that all 27 candidates would emerge victorious in the polls.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020 and rapidly rose to prominence, had earlier been replaced as state chief by Nagendran. Known for his aggressive political style and grassroots outreach, he has been instrumental in amplifying the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu, a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.
In a message posted on X, Annamalai congratulated the candidates and reaffirmed his commitment to the party. He said he would campaign actively for BJP and NDA nominees, expressing confidence in the alliance securing a decisive mandate. He also criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, calling it ineffective and self-serving.
The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Seat-sharing arrangements allocate 169 constituencies to the AIADMK, 27 to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, 11 to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, five to the Tamil Maanila Congress, and one seat each to the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi and Puratchi Bharatham.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The primary contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, although actor-turned-politician Vijay is also positioning himself as a potential challenger, raising the possibility of a multi-cornered contest.
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran says, "A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2026
On Annamalai's name not appearing in the recently released list, he says, "This is a… https://t.co/pDd0HodSAW pic.twitter.com/29gkGK9AaP
