JOIN USState seeks funds from Centre to tackle recession
He would soon call on the Prime Minister and the Union finance minister to press for his demand.
Speaking to reporters after taking part in the Vikasa Sankalpa Utsav here on Friday, he said that the State has been badly affected due to global economic meltdown, and it would be imperative for the Centre to come to the aid of the State.
He, however, did not quantify the financial loss due to recession. He pointed out that it has become difficult for the State to maintain the tempo of industrial development as it was not in a position to dole out incentives and subsidies for new industries.
“Though we will make all-out efforts to plug pilferage and step up resource mobilisation, it will not be enough to counter the effect of recession. Depending on the needs of each State the Centre should announce special financial package in its budget for 2009-10,’’ Yeddyurappa demanded.
He pointed out that after the reduction in fuel prices, the benefits of reduced price was not passed on to the States. Due to global recession industries have their own demand to set up their units.
The State has to provide all the required infrastructure for establishing new industries besides sustaining the existing ones.
Funds
Yeddyurappa also sought centre to bear 50 per cent of funds necessary for the needs of the funds for removal of regional imbalance in Karnataka as recommended by the D M Nanjundappa Committee Report. Stating that as per the report 114 backward, more backward and most backward taluks have been identified in the State and accordingly the State on its own was implementing the report.
He appealed to MPs and Central ministers from the State to pressurise the centre in this regard. He expressed his dismay over the continued neglect of Karnataka vis-a-vis railway development.
“Karnataka is the only state in the country which has volunteered to bear 50 per cent of the cost of new railway projects. And yet the Centre is not co-operating with the State’’ Yeddyurappa alleged.
CM’s taluk yatra
Taking a cue from his predecessor H D Kumaraswamy who had made inroads in rural Karnataka by his popular night outs in villages, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has decided to stay in one taluk of every district to take administration to the doorstep of people of the State.
Announcing this at the ‘Vikasa Sankalpa Utsav’ to commemorate the first year of the BJP government in Gulbarga on Friday, Yeddyurappa said that he would make a surprise visit to a taluk of every district each month and stay there to thoroughly review the pace of development.