CM urges PM to ensure release of NREGA funds

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister today, he said the state had made good progress in implementation of NREGA during 2009-10.Out of the total funds available as on January 5, 2010, an expenditure of 75.24 per cent has been achieved. The union government has revised the labour budget for the state for 2009-10 from Rs 1084.72 crore to Rs 2846.83 crore considering the state's better performance,he said.

Though the understanding was that the amount would be released in two tranches, the state goverment, Yeddyurappa said, has been receiving the money in 'small' instalments from Centre.Even after revision of Labour Budget in Oct 2009, only three instalments have been released till now. 'Despite taking up the matter with Secretary, Rural Development,only Rs 121.25 crore has been released as the seventh tranche which is just about sufficient for a week. These 'meagre' releases are creating many problems in implementation of the scheme, he said.

Yeddyurappa declined to react to the charges levelled by former Prime Minister H D DeveGowda against his government that rules have been flouted to help Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore Express highway project.