Bengaluru:  Even as the JD(S)-Congress Coalition Government is in a crisis following the resignation of 16 MLAs from the ruling Coalition and two independent MLAs, who were Ministers, the State Cabinet, which met here yesterday decided to raise development grants to the Zilla Panchayats (ZPs) and Taluk Panchayats (TPs).

Speaking to press persons after the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Krishna Byregowda said the Cabinet has decided to increase United Development Grants to ZPs to a maximum of Rs. 8 crore from this year, while TPs will get a maximum of Rs. 3 crore, from next year.

Pointing out that the Cabinet also approved a special incentive package of Rs. 25.5 core to encourage potato growing in the State, the RDPR Minister said that to encourage potato growing, each farmer will be given Rs.7,500 per hectare upto 2 hectares, that will cover the cost of plant protection, harvest and other things, Similarly, the Cabinet cleared giving minor millet farmers an incentive of Rs. 10,000 per hectare upto two hectares, a package that will cost the Government Rs.10 crore, he added.

The others decision taken included rejuvenation of Kalyanis in Melukote, Pandavapura taluk at a cost of Rs.37 crore, approval for building a new guest house for Karnataka pilgrims at Tirupati at a cost of Rs. 26 crore, filling up lakes in Mandya through the Lokapavani River at a cost of Rs. 30 crore and approval for Upper Krishna Project (UKP) phase l costing Rs. 375 crore and modernisation of the right bank canal at an estimated cost of Rs. 750 crore among others.

In another major decision, the Cabinet authorised the Chief Minister to constitute a commission to study the demand for increasing quota for STs from the present 3 % jobs and education to 7.5%. The decision was taken following a long pending demand by Valmiki, Nayaka and other ST community leaders in the State.

No decision on JSW land issue: Meanwhile, a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Home Minister M.B. Patil did not clear the sale of 3,667 acres of land to JSW steel in Ballari. 

Krishna Byre Gowda said that the Cabinet Panel discussed the matter in detail, but did not take any decision on the sale of land to Jindal Steel Works (JSW) Industry.