Bengaluru, Jul 15 (DHNS): Housing Minister M H Ambareesh had embarrassing time on Tuesday, thanks to the Finance department. His department is yet to open account in the current financial year when it comes to spending budgetary grants, according to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

However, Ambareesh contradicted it by saying that the Finance department had failed to collect information from his department while furnishing details to the chief minister.

A written answer by Siddaramaiah to a question by G H Srinivas (Cong) in the Legislative Assembly reveals that the Housing department has not spent a single rupee from Rs 3,818 crore allotted to it for the financial year 2015-16 till May this year. On the other hand, the Education department has spent Rs 4,595 crore out of its Rs 20,100-crore grants or 22.86 per cent of its total allotment.

The Agriculture department has shown 3.23 per cent progress, Home and Transport (13.46) and Water Resources (10.61). Siddaramaiah’s written answer did not have the reason for the “zero” performance of the Housing department. Sources in the Financial department point out bills pertaining to Housing department are cleared in bulk to contractors for construction of houses or development of sites. These bills are cleared usually after the second quarter of the financial year. Other departments like Education department have day-to-day infrastructural and financial needs.

However, Siddaramaiah’s “result sheet” did create a buzz for sometime in the corridors of power. Recently, Housing Minister M H Ambareesh had publicly aired his displeasure against Siddaramaiah for being sidelined in administrative issues.

Ambareesh, taking objection to the ‘misleading’ information, has directed his office to write to the principal secretary, Finance department to clarify the factual position. He told the media that the information had been furnished to Siddaramaiah without collecting data from his department. “The progress in my department is 80 pc. I do not know who gave information to the chief minister,” he said.

Sources in his department said till May end the Housing department has spent Rs 315.51 crore and till June-end it is Rs 603 crore. In terms of percentage, it is 8.26 pc against the total allocation, till May-end.