The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka budget to be presented on March 16

Details
State expects ten per cent increase in allocations
Thrust to be given on development of small tanks
Post of Finance Secretary to be filled up before budget

TALKING POINT: The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, addressing a press conference in Hubli on Sunday. — Kiran Bakale

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Hubli Feb. 18 The Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Mr B. S. Yediyurappa, has said that State budget for 2007-08 would be presented on March 16. Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, Mr Yeidyurappa said priority would be given to the implementation of recommendations of Dr Nanjundappa Committee.

According to the committee report, 39 taluks in the State are backward. Adequate funds will be allocated for their development, the Minister said.

Mr Yeidyurappa said three meetings have been held with the former Chief Secretary, Mr A. Ravindra, who has been directed to assess the implementation of the committee recommendations. "The Chief Minister and I have attended these meetings, and based on the findings suitable steps would be incorporated in the budget," he added.

Small tanks

The Deputy Chief Minister said there are about 36,472 tanks in the State, out of which 90 per cent are less than 100 acres in size. Under minor irrigation, it is possible to irrigate 17 lakh hectares by proper utilisation of water available in these tanks. However, only 5 lakh hectares are being irrigated now.

The State is planning to allocate funds to local bodies for the development and maintenance of such tanks. To a query, he said since the exercise required a huge amount of money, the mode of resource mobilisation is being looked into.

Mr Yediyurappa said most of these tanks were encroached by "influential" people and steps are being taken to get them cleared. Since, summer is the best season to get the encroachments cleared, circulars have been issued to the concerned officials for requisite action, he said.

Increase in allocation

The Deputy Chief Minister said the Government is expecting a ten per cent increase in the allocations to the State. The meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled to take place on February 26.

He said efforts were on to fill up the post of Finance Secretary before the presentation of the budget. However, he clarified that he was not facing any problem in preparing the budget in the absence of the Finance Secretary. The services of senior officials of the department are being made use of for the preparations, he added.

Mr Yediyurappa said although there was sufficient improvement in preventing the pilferage revenue, he was not yet satisfied with the increase. Steps are being taken to prevent it even further, he added.

Loan waiver

He was not forthcoming on the proposed loan waiver scheme. The Minister said the modalities are being worked out and a proposal would be presented in the budget.

Expressing dismay over the continued agitation of the opposition parties in the legislature session, Mr Yediyurappa said both the Chief Minister and himself are ready to hold talks with the Opposition leaders. "They (Congress) are experienced. They should guide us when we falter. Instead, disrupting the proceedings of the session will not serve the purpose," he observed.

On the coordination between the coalition partners, Mr Yediyurappa said after some initial hiccups the co-operation has improved a lot and he was sure that there would be no problem during transferring the power to the BJP after the stipulated 20 months.

He justified the statement made by the former Prime Minister, Mr H.D. Devegowda, that the power would be transferred only when the BJP sticks to the Common Minimum Plan. "We have framed a CMP and should abide by that and we will abide by it," he said. Mr Yediyurappa pointed out that both the coalition partners had not deviated from the CMP so far.