Dy CM Yediyurappa denies Opp leader Dharam Singh's charges

Bangalore, Dec 15 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today denied charges levelled by Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly N Dharam Singh with regard to implementation of budgetary proposals.

Giving details of achievements in the last 10 months by the coalition government of Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party here, he told newspersons that though there was 40 to 45 per cent progress on all fronts so far he was not satisfied and expected it to be around 60 per cent.

Announcing that there would not be any fresh assurances during the next three months and the government would ensure around 85 per cent progress by then, he hoped that expenditure incurred on planned programmes till November end was 43 per cent as against 38 per cent during 2005-06.

Replying to queries, he said Mr Singh's charges were 'baseless and aimed at confusing the public. He, along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, would review the progress of various departments from December 26. If there was any laxity found on the part of the officials, they would be punished, he warned.

He said the percentage wise achievement of various departments were Agriculture (39), Rural Development (41.5), Education (71), Housing (36), Food and Civil Supplies (46) and Irrigation (68).

Answering a question, Mr Kumaraswamy said there would be a record collection of resources this year and the government had already released Rs 2330 crore more than the budgetary allocations so far--Rs 1300 crore more than previous year, he pointed out. This was possible due to stringent measures to plug leakages in revenue collections, he added.

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