Siddaramaiah flays Centre for delaying funds, urges state MPs to speak up

Bengaluru: Stating that development projects were being delayed due to the Union government's "apathy" towards Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday alleged that the Centre failed to release its share of funds to the state for various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including Rs 10,889 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the last two years.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the State Disha Committee at the Vidhana Soudha, Siddaramaiah said that of the Rs 22,758 crore central share due under CSS for the 2024–25 financial year, only Rs 18,561 crore has been released so far, leaving a shortfall of Rs 4,195 crore. 

Citing several letters written by his government to the Prime Minister and Union ministries, which he read out in the meeting to highlight the state’s persistent efforts to secure its share, he lashed out at the MPs from the state for "not speaking up for the state" in Parliament over the past two years.

"All MPs from Karnataka, regardless of party affiliation, should come together and exert collective pressure on the Union government. Don’t try to escape your responsibility. You should have secured these funds by now," he said, adding, “We are not asking for favours, but only what is constitutionally ours."  

Siddaramaiah said the state is currently implementing as many as 67 CSS projects with a cumulative outlay of Rs 46,859 crore. "We’ve released our portion. The Union government too must meet its obligations," he insisted, adding that the Centre’s inaction is slowing down development on the ground.

Raising concerns over the non-release of the Rs 5,495 crore special grant recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, he noted that this was not a request but a recommendation by a constitutional body. "Yet the Union government has not delivered it."

He also said that in the case of allocations for lakes and the Peripheral Ring Road project, the amount pending from the Centre amounted to Rs 11,495 crore.

"This injustice is happening despite Karnataka contributing Rs 4.5 lakh crore in taxes to the central pool; the state has received only a fraction in return. This is continued injustice. When we speak up, we are accused of lacking development funds. But the truth is the Centre is denying us our due share."

Underlining the impact of the delay on the part of the Union government in releasing funds for critical social welfare programmes, the CM noted the state is contributing Rs 5,665 crore annually for pensions under schemes for widows, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The Union government is supposed to contribute Rs 559 crore but has released only Rs 113 crore in two years. "Even this small amount has not been paid. Why is there such apathy toward the welfare of the poor?" Siddaramaiah asked.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the chief minister rejected suggestions of animosity towards the NDA government at the Centre but stressed the need for equity and timely financial cooperation. "We are not asking for favours, only what is constitutionally ours,” he said and added that development cannot wait, and if the Centre delays funds, how can states move forward?