Govt seeks to spend Rs 7,590 cr more this financial year

The state government on Friday sought to incur an additional expenditure of Rs 7,590 crore in the current financial year, including Rs 357 crore towards land acquisition for Metro Phase II in Bengaluru.

In his third installment of supplementary estimates tabled in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also allocated Rs 2 crore to be paid to RITES for its detailed project report for the Bengaluru suburban rail project.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, which is implementing the Metro project, has identified around 1,000 properties for acquisition under Phase II.

A major portion of the supplementary estimate is proposed to be spent on power subsidy: Rs 1,449 crore has been earmarked for clearing arrears towards supply of free power to irrigation pumpsets and beneficiaries of Bhagya Jyoti and Kutira Jyoti schemes.

The government is spending Rs 7,199 crore in the current fiscal on power subsidy alone.
Besides, Siddaramaiah has sought to spend Rs 1,383 crore for clearing pending bills in the Public Works Department and paying annuity. Additional expenditure of Rs 1,243 crore is earmarked for the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department. This includes Rs 525 crore for implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Rs 100 crore special grants for drought-relief works.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister has allocated Rs 2 crore for the construction of Basava Bhavan at Chamalapur in Nanjangud, apparently to woo the electorate in the upcoming byelections there.

The total expenditure in the current financial year is Rs 1,64,479 crore, according to the revised estimates presented by the chief minister.


How your money is spent...

Rs 50 lakh for tour expenses of govt chief whips in Council and Assembly and Opposition chief whip in the Council.

Rs 34 lakh for tour expenses of chairman and deputy chairman of Council.

Rs 20 lakh for medical expenses of former MLCs.

Training for non-official members of boards and corporations at a cost of Rs 92 lakh.

Upgrading infrastructure in minority colonies at a cost of Rs 25 cr.

Rs 5 cr for protection of Wakf properties.

Rs 5 cr for deck, land acquisition and contingency expenditure towards Mahamastakabisheka at Shravanabelagola next year.

Rs 4 cr for Kumbh Mela at T Narsipur, Mysuru held last year.

Establishment of Nehru Chintana Kendra at a cost of Rs 3 cr.

Aided Sanskrit Patashala to get Rs 1.59 cr.