N-K state demand mere politics: CM

BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at his critics on Thursday over his commitment for the development of the backward northern Karnataka and asserted that his government had made record allocation of funds for the region’s development. He dismissed the demand for a separate North Karnataka state as mere politics.

Stating that there was no anti-incumbency factor against his government, Siddaramaiah said that nobody can say that his government has not done anything for the development of the region. Replying to the discussions on North Karnataka issues in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah said his government has ensured record allocation of funds for the development works in the region, which is two times more than that allocated by the previous BJP government.

Comparing the expenditure made by his government with that of the previous BJP government, which had an exclusive agriculture budget, he said, “The BJP had spent ` 9,937 crore, but we have spent `22, 531 crore for agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry.”Mocking at a few leaders who are demanding a separate North Karnataka state alleging disparity, he pointed to the Nanjundappa report and said funds had been allocated to address the disparity as per the report.

Accordingly, he said, his government has allocated most funds to Irrigation sector in North Karnataka, where the government aims to spend `10,000 crore annually. “We have spent `41, 621 crore already and within the remaining tenure of our government we will spend `50, 000 crore,” he said.

Stating that rural development is the main focus of his government, he said his government has spent ` 8,407 crore for piped water schemes of which more than 60 per cent was spent on water facilities for Northern Karnataka. He said the government plans to make the State free from open defecation.
On providing clean drinking water, he said the State Government has spent over 50 per cent of the `10, 106 crore on providing drinking water to North Karnataka. He also mentioned about the funds allocated for the construction of roads.

He further said that the decrease in number of protests against the government during the current session when compared to earlier sessions here is an indication of people’s satisfaction with the governance. He expressed confidence that the government will romp back to power.

Referring to the Mahadayi issue, he said that the Prime Minister should intervene and that the  members of the opposition should speak to him and get the project approved.