Budget to be resource-based, says Siddaramaiah

Says no new projects announced by BJP govt in its last budget would be implemented

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka has resolved to not take up new projects announced in the last budget by the BJP government headed by Jagadish Shettar.

Speaking to reporters in Mysore, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said no new projects announced by the BJP government in its last budget would be implemented. However, the ongoing projects would continue, he said indicating that his government would initiate projects of its own.

He also clarified that his government would present a resource-based budget unlike the budgets of the previous BJP government which was a deficit budget. Budgets have to be resource-based and realistic, he said.

The budget would be presented in the first week of July, the chief minister, who had come to the Suttur Mutt here to seek the blessings of the mutt head, said.

He expressed hope that the vexing Cauvery issue would be resolved amicably by the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Monitoring Committee. The state government would take appropriate decision on the Kabini second stage works.

Clarifying on the reports that he had sought the supply of liquor at cheaper rates to the poor which had come for criticism in some quarters, Siddaramaiah, who arrived in the city last night, said he had asked the officials to explore the possibilities of making available liquor at cheaper rates to the poor as they were spending most of their money on liquor following the ban on arrack sale that was marketed by the Mysore Sales International Ltd. However, any decision on this issue would be based on public opinion.

He also stated that the matrix for reservation of posts of Mayors and Deputy Mayors to Municipal Corporations and, presidents and vice-presidents of other local bodies would be finalised soon. Efforts would be towards providing 50 per cent reservation to women in these posts.

He disclosed that senior Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa would be the new Speaker of the State Assembly. His election would take place on May 31.

Siddaramaiah later left for Periyapatna where the Assembly election is scheduled to take place on May 28. Election in the Periyapatna Assembly constituency had to be countermanded following the death of BJP candidate Sannamoge Gowda.