Budget lackluster; disappointed K'taka, says Yeddyurappa

Slamming the Union Budget as a lackluster one, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said the state has not benefited much from it as its several requests including special assistance for Bangalore, sanction of an IIT and reimbursement of farm loan waiver have not been considered by the Centre.

"The Budget is devoid of any new major initiatives to rejuvenate the sluggish economy," he said here.

The state's request for special assistance of Rs 8,000 crore for Bangalore city towards improving the infrastructure has not been considered, while the Finance Minister has been "liberal'" in sanctioning special funds towards flood management in West Bengal and Mumbai city, he charged.

"The Centre has disappointed Karnataka once again by not conceding our demand to sanction IIT, while other states are favoured.

"Also Karnataka's request to reimburse Rs 1,880 crore towards farm loan waiver by the state government has also not been considered by the Centre," he said.

Yeddyurappa said 84 taluks were affected by the drought last year and some taluks were badly hit by floods, adding, the state's request for central assistance to the tune of Rs 2,019 crore to take up relief measures in these taluks has also not been fulfilled.

The request for enhancing the state's share in the central tax revenue in the wake of recession has not been considered, he added.