Karnataka Budget 2017: Dakshina Kannada gets two new taluks

Mangaluru: The state government has announced 49 new taluks including Moodbidri and Kadaba in Dakshina Kannada in the state budget for the year 2017 here on Wednesday.

Siddaramaiah presenting his 12th budget as the finance minister, announced upgradation of Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru with a grant of Rs 10 Crore. The other highlights in the budget concerning the city of Mangaluru are Rs 10 Crore grant for construction of Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru, Rs 50 Crore for the Development of 2.5 km road on Mangaluru-Athradi State Highway connecting Mangalore International Airport, Rs 3 Crore for setting up of Regional and Higher Children Health Institute at Wenlock Hospital and a de-salination plant in the city.

In the Rs 1,82,119 Crore populist budget for the year 2017-18, it has given several sops including no VAT on hard beer and wine, free water to slum dwellers and Namma Canteen for the state. The sops also include free LPG service for 5 lakh families. While the reasons are not known, Karnataka had imposed 20 percent hike in additional excise duty on Indian-made liquor for the fiscal 2015-16. The budget has allocated Rs 100 Crore for setting up of Namma Canteens in Bengaluru. These canteens are expected to provide breakfast for Rs 5, lunch/dinner for Rs10.