Hassan most pampered by Horti department

BANGALORE: Coinciding with former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's threat to launch an agitation against the state government for its alleged neglect to Hassan district, the state horticulture department has selected the highest number of beneficiaries under the Suvarna Bhoomi scheme, from this district.
What is surprising is that this number exceeds the total number of beneficiaries shortlisted in three north Karnataka districts, which is considered the horticulture hub of the state (see box). According to official sources, the state horticulture department has shortlisted as many as 2,09,916 beneficiaries under the Suvarna Bhoomi scheme, in which each farmer family would be eligible to receive Rs10,000, a onetime payment to refurbish one's farm land. The state government has earmarked Rs1,000 crore for the scheme, for which it has already released Rs 50 crore.