Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 18: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday January 18 slammed a media report that claimed nearly 50 percent of the 2017-18 state budget outlay had remained unspent so far. The state government issued a press release giving financial details and terming the report a 'blatant lie'.
According to a report by Times of India, 23 departments of the government have not spent even 50 percent of their funds. "Records show that the total expenditure barely crossed the halfway mark and 23 departments have not even spent 50% of their funds. Against its estimated expenditure of Rs 1,78,385 crore by March 31 this year, the government spent only Rs 99,774 crore till the end of December. And of the estimated capital expenditure of Rs 33,640 crore, only Rs 14,585 crore has been spent so far," the report claimed.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah refuted the media report. "Today a @TOIBengaluru story claimed that only 50% of our budget is spent. This is a blatant lie. The correct facts are: 62% of the budget is spent till Dec 2017 & the rest will be spent in the last quarter. This expenditure is higher than our achievements last year." he tweeted.
"Contrary to misleading media reports on Budget Outlay, GoK has spent upwards of 62% of 2017-18 Budget b/w April & Dec 2017. As a fiscally prudent state, the Govt is well aware of its responsibilities to the ppl & is sure to achieve 100% expenditure by the end of this fiscal (sic)," the CM tweeted from his official Twitter handle. He also posted a copy of the government's press release stating that over 60 percent of the budget outlay had been spent.
He further said, "Unfortunate that some media houses today chase headlines, instead of the whole truth. As the 4th pillar of democracy, Media must ensure due diligence in reportage, especially on matters pertaining to governance and state interest."
The press release states, "The Government of Karnataka is one of the most fiscally prudent States of the country. Karnataka has been sustaining a revenue surplus over the last 12 years. In FY17 (RE), the revenue surplus was at Rs 1,063 crore. The state utilizes its revenue surplus towards capital creation, crucial for the future growth potential of the economy. The state is also incurring higher expenditure towards capital creation. Capital outlay grew by 19.6 per cent in FY17 (RE) following the 5.6 per cent growth in FY16. Irrigation, transport, agriculture and social services are the focus areas of capital outlay.
"In spite of this, some media houses have attempted to tarnish the Government's image of good fiscal management, by publishing articles devoid of factual accuracy. The front page headline today claiming nearly 50 per cent of budget outlay remains unspent in Kamataka Is a blatant Ile," the release stated.
"For the financial year 2017-18, the government of Karnataka has spent upwards of 62 per cent of the total budget outlay from April to December 2017. This is contrary to some media reports which suggest a lower spend so far. In the first 9 months of the current financial year, close to 65 per cent of the revenue budget has been spent, while the percentage expenditure for capital budget is close to 50 per cent in this time period.
"In comparison with the same time period of the previous financial year (2016-17), 59 per cent of the total Budget outlay had been spent between April and December 2016. With this, the government achieved 101 per cent actual expenditure by the end of the previous financial year. This clearly indicates that the government of Karnataka is well on its way to ensure full expenditure of the total budget outlay of Rs. 1,78,385 crore for 2017-18.
"Media houses have a responsibility to the people of Karnataka to communicate the truth based on facts and not deal in fickle journalism, which ultimately brings disrepute to the state of Karnataka," stated the official press release.