Friday, February 11 2005 18:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka today (Feb 11, 2005) pleaded with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sanction Rs 14,400 crore special assistance, including a Rs 6,000 crore special package for Bangalore, to meet the growing needs for roads, water supply, sanitation, power and infrastructure.

In his welcome address at a function, organised to give a visual presentation on various infrastructure projects of the State to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Dharam Singh said Karnataka has the second largest arid zone in the country and every year some parts of the State are affected by drought.

In this context, he sought Central sanction for Rs 3,600 crore over the next six years for watershed development in Karnataka.

Dharam Singh urged the Centre to make available credit to farmers at an interest rate of not more than six per cent to enable the State achieve the Indian Government's aim of doubling agricultural credit.

Thanking the Prime Minister for the clearances given to the Bangalore International Airport Project, he sought speedy approval for the Bangalore Metro Project.

He wanted the Centre to extend Rs 4,800 crore financial assistance to remove regional imbalance in North Karnataka region.

The State has been asking the Centre to share 50 per cent of the Rs 9,600 crore package, suggested by eminent economist Dr D N Nanjundappa, for the development of North Karnataka region.

Dharam Singh sought the Prime Minister's intervention in enacting a Central legislation at an early date to formulate guidelines for admission of students to professional courses.

The Prime Minister witnessed a visual presentation on various projects initiated by Karnataka and those proposed including the progress made on the Bangalore International Airport Project. The Prime Minister, who arrived in the afternoon, is on a two-day visit to the State. He is scheduled to visit Infosys centre at Mysore tomorrow.