Karnataka Clears ₹25 Crore Drought Relief, 4,500 Electric Buses Under PM E-DRIVE

The Karnataka Cabinet has sanctioned ₹25 crore for fodder-related measures in drought-hit areas and approved the allocation of 4,500 electric buses to Bengaluru and other parts of the state under the Centre’s PM E-DRIVE programme.

The fodder funds will be used to purchase and cultivate fodder and distribute fodder seed kits through the Animal Husbandry Department. The department can procure fodder from outside Karnataka as well as from farmers within the state.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said tenders for the electric buses have already been invited, with decisions taken for six companies. The buses, whose individual cost is expected to range between ₹12 crore and ₹15 crore, will be distributed across Karnataka based on the state government’s requirements. The state will bear their maintenance costs.

The Cabinet also reviewed the continuing drought situation, with 101 taluks already declared drought-hit under the Centre’s Drought Manual 2020. Another 50-60 taluks could qualify in the second round. The government plans to submit a memorandum detailing drought losses to the Centre later this month.

Karnataka has so far sanctioned ₹1,229 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund, though the amount has not been released. The state has separately allocated ₹187 crore for drinking water and kept ₹329 crore with Deputy Commissioners for water, works and fodder requirements.

Among other decisions, the Cabinet approved a ₹59-crore agricultural export promotion programme and a ₹46-crore initiative to digitally integrate 182 government hospitals. A comprehensive trauma-care programme costing around ₹46 crore was also cleared.

The Cabinet further approved ₹249 crore to develop UVCE Bengaluru on IIT lines, besides a ₹2,000-crore government guarantee for refinancing through NABARD.

Several road, bridge and lift-irrigation projects were also approved, along with participation in the Modified Regional Connectivity Scheme to strengthen air connectivity across Karnataka.