Daily revenue of transport corporations has increased by Rs 8 crore after implementation of Shakti scheme: Karnataka minister

He also said that the government has paid Rs 2,800 crore to the four corporations under the Shakti scheme.

Under the Shakti scheme, the Congress-led Karnataka government provides free bus rides to women.

When MLC K S Naveen asked if there is any pendency in disbursing salaries to the employees of the RTCs, Reddy said no salary is due but there is a debt burden of Rs 5,200 crore on the four RTCs.

“The debts are related to dues payable to retired employees, provident funds and diesel suppliers,” Reddy said.

“We are crediting the salaries to the employees on time. During the BJP regime, recruitment was conducted as 13,800 employees had retired. We are planning to hire about 9,000 employees,” the minister said.

He also blamed the BJP for not purchasing buses and said the Congress government will soon procure 900 electric buses.

Ready to increase milk prices: Karnataka minister

Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh, during the question hour, said the government is ready to hike the retail prices of milk sold by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) if the stakeholders support it.

Responding to Congress MLC K Harish Kumar’s question, Venkatesh said, “We understand that the cattle feed prices have increased and it is becoming a burden on the farmers. If the Opposition supports, we are ready to increase milk prices.”

Kumar informed the house the distress of milk producers caused by the steep hike in cattle feed prices as the government recently hiked it by Rs 1,000 per metric tonne.