Karnataka - Bangalore   

‘Where is the money for budget promises?’

BANGALORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M. Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday criticised the State Government on its failure in mobilising nearly Rs. 5,000 crore for the budgeted programmes and wondered how could it implement a major part of the budget over the last few months of the financial year.

Mr. Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa told presspersons that he criticised Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Minister for Energy K.S. Eshwarappa for making false promises.

A session of the legislature should be convened immediately to discuss the issues. Mr. Kharge said Rs. 3,000 crore of sales tax, Rs. 1,000 crore from stamps and registration and Rs. 700 crore of excise was yet to be collected. But the ministers were busy attending felicitations and meetings and had no time to attend to peoples’ problems.

No major irrigation works were in progress, thanks to non-release of funds. The officers in all the departments had been transferred and even those at the lower levels had not been spared and there was confusion among most government personnel on whether they would be shifted again. He alleged that the Chief Minister was liberal in releasing Rs. 10 crore without any bills and tenders to take up works in Maddur Assembly Constituency, because of the by-election. Funds should have been released as per the ratio prescribed by the D.M. Nanjundappa panel.

Recalling various trips to New Delhi when he was the Home Minister to get Central funds and weapons for the Anti-Terrorist Cell, Coastal Security Force and Anti-Naxal Squad in the State, Mr. Kharge said that the State Government should continue such efforts. Karnataka, because of its pre-eminent position in IT-BT and the revenue that it generated for the Centre needed urgent security measures, including a squad on the lines of the NSG. The police vehicles had not been taken out for want of funds to meet the fuel expenditure.

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