Bengaluru: Karnataka has demanded funds worth Rs 1.4 lakh crore from the Centre under the 15th Finance Commission. The state intends to spend Rs 53,000 crore under a mega project which will ensure water supply to all habitations.

The Karnataka government has given a memorandum to the head of the commission, NK Singh. The memorandum consists of the details of the government’s demands for special grants for state’s overall development.

The state’s highest proposed outlay of Rs 62,719 crore is to upgrade facilities in the urban local body jurisdiction.

Rs 53,000 crore has been sought by the state for its scheme, Jaladhare, to supply water to all habitations. According to reports, the memorandum said that a total of 73.9 tmcft of water is required every year to supply 85 litres per capita of drinking water to uncovered rural areas. The amount sought is the estimated cost of the project. The memorandum also said that in the identified districts, about 275MW of electricity would be required to run the project, reports stated.

The government also intends to spend Rs 21,000 crore hoping to double the income of the state’s farmers in the next five years.

A finance department official reportedly said that one of the primary objectives of the new plan is to double farmers’ incomes. According to him, surveys indicate that it will take seven to 14 years to double real income of farmers’ households at the current observed growth rates. A faster growth is required for a quicker breakthrough, reports said.

The state has sought around Rs 756 crore for infrastructure development in colleges and capacity building among others. The amount has been sought to try and bridge the gap between education and employment to enhance employability and skill development.

While various agencies and departments have sought Rs 25,000 crore to undertake several developmental activities concerning Bengaluru, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating the contributions the city makes towards the country and the problems it faces. The mayor has sought Rs 10,000 crore, under the 15th Finance Commission, for the BBMP to develop the infrastructure of Bengaluru.