Bengaluru: The state government has requested MPs from Karnataka to appeal to the Centre to clear its long pending projects and release the funds it needs for others.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the MPs here on Tuesday, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said although the Defence Minister had agreed to part with land for Namma Metro and the city's roads, there had been no progress on this front.
Also several projects were pending approval in various departments of the Union government, he said. "The Centre has not paid Rs 938 crore due to the RDPR since 2016-17 and not released its full share of funds under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme either. So far, it has released only Rs 520 crore of the Rs 1020 crore due. Under the Public Distribution Scheme too the Centre has not released its share of Rs 1100 crore to the state," Mr Kumaraswamy deplored, adding that it had not honoured its agreement on coal supply to the state as well. "Consequently, power generation has been hit in the state and although there is an airport at Kalaburagi, it is not operational for want of the Centre's cooperation. There are also pending railway projects," Mr Kumaraswamy explained.
The CM also asked the MPs to stand together against any opposition by neighbouring Tamil Nadu to Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river during the winter session of Parliament. Tamil Nadu has demanded that the Centre withdraw its permission to Karnataka for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu.
To a question on farm loan waiver by nationalised banks, he said in the first phase loans pertaining to 17 lakh farm loan accounts would be waived. The repayment will start in January, when loans up to Rs 50,000 will be written off.
"Clearing of farm loans in the cooperative sector has already started and we have the data pertaining to Sedam and Doddaballapur. The next instalment for clearing loans upto Rs 350 crore will be released on December 31," the CM added.
