Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 10: Karnataka minister for Rural Development, Krishna Byre Gowda blamed the Centre for bias and for not releasing dues of Rs 1,697 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the state government.
“Of the Rs 1,697 crore which is yet to come from the centre, Rs 856 crore is pending for the past three years,” Gowda lamented.
Terming the government at the Centre to be ‘anti-poor’, he said the state is forced to make payments for works mandated under the MGNREGA such as check-dams, Anganwadi and school compound walls through loans.
He also blamed the Centre for being biased, claiming that funds are released to states having BJP government. Rs 4,000 crore was released to Maharashtra, he said.
Gowda also blamed certain media for writing about failures of state in controlling drought without knowing the complete picture. “It seems they are advocating on behalf of the centre.”
The state government has taken decisions pertaining to drinking water supply, job creation and fodder for animals in drought affected regions. As a relief measure, each drought-hit tehsil has been given an additional Rs two crore whereas Rs 324 crore has been released for drought-hit districts, Gowda said.
An action plan of Rs 3,600 crore has been prepared for drought relief work. Of this, Rs 200 crore was released immediately, the minister said.