The Karnataka Government has approved the agriculture department's proposal to procure fertiliser in advance.

The State Cabinet, which met on Thursday, has decided to give bank guarantee to the Karnataka State Co-operating Marketing Federation to buy eight lakh tonnes of different fertilisers for the kharif season.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meet, Mr Suresh Kumar, State Law and Municipal Administration Minister, said “the proposal is from the agriculture department to procure different fertilisers at a cost of Rs 1,162.75 crore.”

The agriculture department plans to buy 1.5 lakh tonnes of urea, three lakh tonnes DAP, 2.5 lakh tonnes complex and one lakh tonnes MoP.

Health Commission

The Government has also decided to share one-year interest burden of Rs 30 crore and transport cost of Rs 14.63 lakh and goods handling cost of Rs 6.73 lakh.

The State Cabinet has also approved the setting up of ‘Karnataka Healthcare System Commission' to strengthen medical education and research in the State.

Mr Kumar said “The commission will have 10 members with the Principal Secretary - health/medical department being the Secretary. The main mandate for the commission is to suggest ways and means to improve medical education, promote healthcare research and integration of Indian system of medicine with modern medicine.”

The Cabinet also gave administrative approval to take up construction of 100 bed hospitals at a cost of Rs 5.58 crore at Srinivasapura in Kolar, Bhantwal, Dakshina Kannada (Rs 5.58 crore) and Naragunda, Gadag (Rs 8.68 crore).

> anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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