NEW DELHI, 29 NOV

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, urging immediate rectification of the state's short-term farm loan limits, as well as seeking financial support of Rs 10,000 crore for critical infrastructure projects.

In a meeting held at the Parliament complex, Siddaramaiah addressed several pressing issues in the areas of agriculture, water resources, and urban infrastructure, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shiva Kumar, Energy Minister KJ George, and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh.

Siddaramaiah expressed concern over the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development's (NABARD) recent decision to reduce Karnataka's Short-Term Agricultural Credit Limit from Rs 5,600 crore to Rs 2,340 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year. He warned that this 58 per cent decrease would significantly hinder farmers' access to essential loans, forcing many to rely on private lenders.

The Chief Minister also requested Rs 5,300 crore for the long-pending Upper Bhadra Project, aimed at irrigating drought-prone farmlands in central Karnataka. Furthermore, he called for urgent clearances for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Kalasa Bandhuri projects, which are awaiting approval from the Jal Shakti and Environment ministries.

With Bengaluru's status as a tech hub and significant GDP contributor, Siddaramaiah sought special assistance for urban transportation initiatives and requested funds for infrastructure development in 13 emerging city corporations. He also highlighted concerns about the state's diminished tax share from the 15th Finance Commission, advocating for compensation grants to ensure equitable treatment in future financial allocations. -PTI