The Karnataka Budget has some schemes and projects lined up for northern Karnataka.
A few days after Andhra Pradesh filed a case against Karnataka planning to increase the height of the Almatti dam, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the State government was committed to taking up land acquisition for the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project.
“Our government has accepted the long-pending demands of farmers and project-affected persons by approving the revised consent rates for the land required for canal network and submergence under the UKP Stage-III project as a result of the increase of the Almatti dam height. As much as ₹30 lakh per acre and ₹40 lakh per acre have been fixed for acquisition of dry and wet land, respectively under the consent award. Land acquisition process will be commenced in the current year,” he said.
For the first time, under the new Industrial Policy 2025-30, additional incentive of 5% for the most backward regions and 3% for the background regions are being provided to promote industrial development beyond Bengaluru. The State government will set up an industrial park on 1,000 acres in Belagavi district to promote economic development and local employment opportunities. To promote MSMEs, eight industrial estates have been established in different districts by KSSIDC. In 2026-27, two new Indistrial estates will be established in Muddebihala, Vijayapura district, and Kampli, Ballari district. Furthermore, in the current year, 1,500 industrial plots will be allocated across 10 industrial estates.
To encourage sheep and goat farming in the Belagavi and Kalaburagi divisions, a scheme to provide 25% subsidy for setting up sheep/goat units to 10,000 select beneficiaries has been formulated. Further, to promote dairy farming, 25% subsidy will be provided to select 10,000 beneficiaries to purchase cows/buffaloes. In the current year, ₹40 crore grant will be earmarked for these schemes.
Matsya Darshinis’ will be established in Belagavi, Davangere, Hubballi, and Chikkamagaluru to promote fish consumption and make clean and quality fish products available to the public.
Fish markets will be set up in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Bagalkot to address the need for well-equipped fish markets.
The Budget proposes to construct permanent barracks for 1,000 personnel at a cost of ₹20 crore for staff deployed for bandobast duties during the Legislature Session held at the Suvarna Soudha, Belagavi. To encourage wrestlers, a new wrestling arena will be constructed at Belagundi in Belagavi.
Ten working women’s hostels for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employed women will be started in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi.
As many as 50 post-matric hostels of 150 strength will be started for Backward Classes students in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Davangere, Shivamogga, and Ballari.
Government first grade colleges will be established in Chadachana in Vijayapura and Belagavi Rural constituencies. A Praja Soudha will be built in Bailhongal.
Two cold storage facilities with a capacity of 12,000 MT will be established in Honnali taluk of Davangere district and Toravi of Vijayapura district at a cost of ₹64 crore. A fund of ₹10 crore will be provided during the current year for phased reconstruction of hostel buildings of Sainik School in Vijayapura.
The ESI dispensaries at Raichur, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Bidar, Koppal, Chitradurga, Mandya, Bhadravati, KGF, and Chikkamagaluru will be upgraded.
National-level marathons will be organised under the ‘Sashaktha Karnataka’ programme at a cost of ₹10 lakh each in Belagavi, Gokarana, Chitradurga, and Hampi.
Also, district-level marathons will be organised in the name of famous sports personalities at 10 districts, at a cost of ₹4 lakh each. Taluk stadiums will be constructed at Bangarapete, Muddebihala, Guledagudda, Kanakapura, Kukanur and Maski.
A working women’s hostels for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will come up in Belagavi. Muddebihal in Vijayapura and Yaragatti in Belagavi District will get new police stations.
Published – March 07, 2026 12:32 am IST
