Patna, July 23: The state cabinet today sanctioned Rs 784.49 crore for irrigation purposes for kharif crops in view of scanty rainfall in the state.

It sanctioned Rs 769.06 crore to be distributed among farmers as diesel subsidy, while Rs 15.43 crore was sanctioned for a contingency crop plan, he said, adding that the decision is aimed at providing immediate relief to the agriculture sector grappling with low rainfall that the state received since June 1 this year.

“The decision would help farmers irrigate the land in all the 38 districts, which have received scanty/low rainfall in the current 2013-14. According to the plan, each farmer would get Rs 750 per acre for three irrigations,” cabinet department secretary Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters here in a post-cabinet meet briefing.

In another decision that may burn holes in students’ pockets, the cabinet gave a nod to increase the examination fees of Bihar Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Bihar Public Service Commission.

The students belonging to categories of general, OBC and EBC would have to deposit Rs 300 and Rs 375 as examination fees for the prelims and the mains respectively against the current charge of Rs 200 for both the examinations, Mehrotra said. Similarly, SC/ST candidates would have to pay Rs 75 and Rs 100 as examination fees for both prelims and mains instead of Rs 50 for both the tests.

The cabinet also decided to increase the rate of interest to 8.7 per cent from 8 per cent to be paid on general provident fund/contributory provident fund, Mehrotra said, adding that the increased rate would be effective from April 1, 2013.