CM blames Centre for scarcity of funds in Karnataka

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has admitted that the financial condition of Karnataka is poor and he has held the Centre responsible for the situation.

Yeddyurappa who was in Hubli on Thursday to campaign for party’s candidates for legislative council election said the Centre had not provided necessary funds for various programmes and hence there was revenue deficit in the state.

The CM however said he did not have statistics regarding the amount to be received from the Centre. Stating that Karnataka’s revenue deficit till November end stood at 54 per cent, Yeddyurappa expressed confidence that it would be overcome by the end of financial year.

Claiming that he was the only chief minister in the country who has not given permission to mining other than the value-added ones, Yeddyurappa pointed out that during the tenure of his predecessors Dharam Singh and H D Kumara Swamy and also during the President’s rule in the state permission to mining had been granted on competition. He said he had written to Lok Ayukta seeking a comprehensive report on illegal mining in the state.

On charges leveled by Congress and Janata Dal(S) leaders, Yeddyurappa said it had become a passion for them to keep criticising the government since he became the chief minister. “I hope they will continue to do so till I complete my term” he remarked. He wanted Congress leaders R V Deshpande and Siddaramaiah to ascertain the facts regarding flood-relief works first then comment.

Replying to a question on BMIC he said he had given only 236 acres of land for linking the two roads built by NICE. On power supply situation in the state the CM said the government was making efforts to generate 5000 MW electricity within five years. He said the state would seek Centre’s help in creating infrastructure at the proposed Kudagi Thermal Power Plant in Bijapur district.