Leader of the Opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday asked the State government to present a white paper detailing the state of finances before the budget is presented.
“The State government’s loans are to the tune of ₹2.38 lakh crore and bills have not been cleared in many departments. To provide the current financial status, a white paper should be presented before the budget,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said at the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on the Governor’s speech.
“Bills worth nearly ₹10,000 crore are pending for clearance in the Irrigation, Public Works and other departments. Instructions have been given to halt public works till the next direction is given,” he said. “Under the illusion of returning to power, the previous government laid the foundation stone for works costing ₹ 6,000 crore to ₹7,000 crore.”
He also said the government owes the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation nearly ₹16,000 crore and Mysore Minerals Ltd. about ₹1,500 crore.
Despite all this, he said, the JD(S) has announced a slew of promises, including farm loan waiver. “We will wait for the budget to see what will be announced. In case the government fails to keep up its election promises, we will go around the State exposing it.”
Commenting on the coalition government, he said, “The government does not have the trust of the people and is bound to be dissolved soon.”