JOIN US The state government on Thursday blamed the Centre for not releasing sufficient funds for construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat scheme.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil told reporters in Bengaluru that the state, in its project proposal sent to the Centre, had stated that it had set a target of constructing 12 lakh toilets in 2016-17 at a cost Rs 1,800 crore. However, only Rs 253 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre. Patil said the Centre’s failure to release sufficient grants would hamper the government’s target of achieving an “open defecation free state” by October 2, 2018.
Patil said the Centre had also not released wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme since June 24 this year. The pending dues amounted to Rs 275 crore. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union Panchayat Raj Minister Narendra Singh Tomar with a request that the wages be released at the earliest, Patil said. Earlier, Siddaramaiah held a review meeting of the RDPR department.