'25 pc of budget not spent in last 3 yrs'

Initiating a discussion on the budget for 2011-12, he said an average 25 per cent of the total budget allocation had remained unspent. In 2008-09 for instance, the government had not been able to spend Rs 13,660 crore of the total expenditure target of Rs 54,000 crore.

Similarly, Rs 12,000 crore remained unspent in 2009-10. In the current year (till January), the government has spent only 51 per cent of the total expenditure target.

“These figures clearly show that the government has failed to mobilise funds for nearly 25 per cent of the expenditure meant for development activities. It is ironical that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has been speaking of increasing the total budget outlay of the State to Rs one lakh crore, despite the abysmal performance,” he said.

He criticised Yeddyurappa for presenting the agriculture budget, saying the chief minister had created history by arriving at the Vidhana Soudha in a procession to present the budget and not by presenting the agriculture budget.

“The agriculture budget has nothing new and special for the farmers. There is no substantial hike in allocation for agriculture and allied activities. He (Yeddyurappa) has only created an illusion for the farmers,” he stated.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah took exception to the absence of Ministers and department heads in the House during the discussion on the budget. “MLAs are only policy-makers. It is officials who implement the programmes. If they are not present during the discussion, how will they rectify lapses? The chief minister seems to have lost control over the officials,” he charged.

Yeddyurappa then told the Leader of the Opposition that he would immediately summon all the ministers and officials and urged Siddaramaiah to start the discussion on the budget.