Govt accuses Centre of 'step motherly' treatment towards K'tka

Accusing NDA government at the Centre of meting out "step motherly" treatment, Congress government in Karnataka today said allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee scheme for the state has been cut by Rs 1,000 crore, compared to the previous year.
In his reply to the debate on demand for grants to his department in the Assembly, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayatraj H K Patil blamed cut in Centre's allocation as a reason for not completing some projects in parts of the state.
Requesting the Union government for impartial allocation of funds, he pointed out that higher allocations made to few neighbouring states.

"Though 73 per cent of funds were utilized, Rs 3,943 crore was given to Tamil Nadu, while for Karnataka Rs 1,829 crore was released and despite spending 120 per cent more than Rs 1,000 crore has been cut," Patil said.
He also referred to similar "discrimination" in allocation of funds to the state compared to Andhra Pradesh. It had been given Rs 4,100 crore at one go in April last.
Stating that members of the House should not allow such "step motherly" treatment towards the state in the future, Patil said "cut money if there is no proper utilization of money or if desired progress has not been achieved."

Questioning more allocations to other states, Patil said "I request the government not do such discrimination while releasing funds."

He also claimed that his ministry had been able to stop leakage of money with respect to MNREGA scheme and would further work towards achieving progress in this.
On steps taken towards providing clean drinking water to rural areas, he said government aims to install 7,000 drinking water units across the state March end.
"I will send my resignation to the Chief Minister if I'm not able to fulfill my promise of installing 7,000 drinking eater units," he added.