Cubbon Park to be turned into amusement park???

Mini-budget out
HDK Announces Big Plans To Boost Agriculture, Horticulture,Tourism
The Times of India

Bangalore: Practically unveiling a mini-budget, CM H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced a slew of promises for Karnataka’s development, ranging from a new agriculture policy to wine-making in Bijapur to making Cubbon Park an international-level amusement park.

Despite intense political activity on the eve of ministry formation, Kumaraswamy, accompanied by deputy CM B S Yediyurappa reviewed the finance, agriculture and horticulture, social welfare and urban development departments. “Our fiscal position is good. Against estimated losses of Rs 2,000 crore under VAT, our actual losses are Rs 1,200 crore which we will claim from the Centre. Tax collection is Rs 18,000 crore, with an excess of Rs 144 crore in excise,’’ he said.

The upcoming budget will reduce the urban-rural divide, with a strong stress on horticulture. “We will keep in mind the backwardness index developed by D M Nanjundappa and concentrate on developing 39 backward taluks,’’ he said. New measures

Special allocation to upgrade Cubbon Park and Lalbagh to international levels.

Folk art shows at Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha, Udyoga Soudha and Cubbon Park as part of Suvarna Karnataka fest.
Wine-making units in the grape zone of Bijapur.These will be linked to excise policy. There will be emphasis on export.

Special trusts under DCs for upgradation of Nandi Hills and Kemmanagundi.

Agro-food crops to be transported like KMF milk.

National Horticulture Mission to be fully utilised; new districts from north Karnataka added. Govt to meet all medical expenses for cancer and heart diseases of SC/ST BPL families. Special programme to tackle nutrition for pregnant SC/ST and BPL women.

Water usage policy in CADA areas jointly evolved by agriculture, water resources and horticulture departments.
New farm policy to integrate and implement Byre Gowda’s 1995 report with salient points of all subsequent reports.

Rs 27-cr revolving fund to make fertiliser and seeds available to farmers ahead of harvest. 700 tech staff recruitment for Raitha Samparka Kendras.

Morarji Desai residential schools for SC/STs in 39 backward taluks.

Rehabilitation programme for devadasis.

New cards to 64 lakh BPL beneficiaries in 3 months; till then, temporary cards.