Now, Yeddyurappa too Joins Austerity Bandwagon


Now, Yeddyurappa too Joins Austerity Bandwagon
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Sept 17: Emulating the example set by the Congress-led UPA regime at the Centre in following austerity measures, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has also promised to take up the same route.

The Chief Minister, who reached Gulbarga on a short visit on Thursday to inaugurate the Hyderabad Karnataka Liberation Day celebrations, told reporters that he would convene a high level meeting of senior government officials to chalk out a strategy for austerity measures to be adopted by the state government and chalk out the roadmap for cutting down wasteful expenditure.

It may be recalled that Union Finance Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee had asked his cabinet colleagues like External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his junior minister Shashi Tharoor as well as newly appointed chairman of the Unique Identity Scheme Task Force Nandan Nilekani to give up their stay in posh star hotels as part of the austerity exercise. Incidentally, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi had flown to Bangalore by Air India to participate in the Infosys function at Mysore in the economy class after ordering a 20% cut in the salaries of all party MPs. The party’s heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi, MP, had also travelled by train.




Yeddyurappa, who saw nothing wrong in visiting China with a 30-member official delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers like Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, Rural and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje and many others including senior officers, obviously has decided that he should not become a target of public criticism by continuing the present tendency of expenditure.

The Chief Minister said the financial situation in the state was showing definite signs of upswing and the resource mobilization in the key departments like the excise, Transport, commercial taxes and others had shown remarkable improvement when compared to the first three months of the current financial year.

However, he admitted that the resource mobilization in the first quarter of the financial year was not encouraging and below the fixed targets.

``But the concerted action and some tough talking made the officials to improve the resource mobilization had produced the necessary results,’’ he said pointing out that the first two months of the second quarter of the financial year yielded remarkable improvements in the resource mobilization.

The Chief Minister asserted that the Government ``wanted to surpass resource mobilization made last year.’’

``The recession is continuing to have its impact on the resource mobilization exercise in the state and we would make all effort to ensure that the resource mobilization levels does not go down beyond the last year’s collections,’’ he claimed.

Yeddyurappa, who is also holding charge of the Finance portfolio, explained that the Centre had allowed states to resort to higher fiscal deficit of 3.50 per cent against the 3 per cent limit during the last financial year. But Karnataka maintained its fiscal deficit at 3.36 per cent.

``This year too, the Central government had raised the fiscal deficit levels of the states to 4 per cent and the state hopes to mobilize Rs 2000 crore from the permitted fiscal deficit by raising loans and floating bonds and debentures,’’ he said.

He said that the Government proposed to bring in changes to the Major Mineral Act to increase the tax base on major minerals to generate additional revenue of Rs 400 Crore. Assistance from the World Bank and the ADB would also availed to take up development works in the state.

To a question, Yeddyurappa said that there was no change in the proposal to hold the Global Investors Meeting in Bangalore in January next year.

Cooperation Minister Lakshman Savadi, Chairman of the High Power Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Nanjundappa Committee Shashil G Namoshi and Animal Husbandry Minister Revu Naik Belamgi were also present.

Apart from participating in the Hyderabad Karnataka Liberation Day celebrations by unfurling the national flag near the statue of Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel in Gulbarga, the Chief Minister would be addressing a public meeting near the statue and flag off a procession of schoolchildren as part of the celebrations. Later, he would participate in an official function of the celebrations at the S M Pandit Auditorium and honour freedom fighters and eminent personalities from different walks of life in recognition of their services to society.  He would also lay the foundation stone for the Suvarna Swatantra Horatagarara Bhavan and take part in a felicitation function organised by the Nijasharana Ambigara Chowdaiah Jayanti Celebration Committee at Ganga Nagar.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ayush Prasad, New Delhi/Manipal

    Sat, Sep 19 2009

    In times of economic recession created by lack of demand, there is a need to encourage spending, to get economy moving. By austerity, it will push economy further into recession. These things only eat away precious news time. The token austerity will save 100Crs out of 4 lak crs of Indian Budget. There should be focus on checking on corruption, decrease in wasteful administrative costs and increase spending in- schemes and program implementation, development of infrastructure, funds for establishment of new businesses. By removing Mr. Krishna from the hotel, for which he was supposedly paying from his Cafe Coffee Day funds, only affects the business in the Hospitality industry.

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  • Shridhara Achar, Puttur/ Bangalore

    Fri, Sep 18 2009

    Austerity is need of the hour. Yes, one cannot as simple as Mahatma Gandhi in those days. But ministers spending lavishly is nothing but looting the taxpayers money. Of late, ministers both at centre and states have developed 5 star culture. The decision of Chief minister Yeddyurappa to go for austerity is welcome. Non plan and unproductive expenditures should be cut mercilessly.

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  • shahnawaz kukkikatte, dubai/udupi

    Fri, Sep 18 2009

    Mr Nagesh Nayak has been a staunch supporter and patron of BJP. For him, no body should criticize BJP though its a healthy critic and time tested one. I like your spirit Nagesh Maamm.

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  • naveen, udupi

    Fri, Sep 18 2009

    mr nagesh nayak i totaly with u

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  • vinay dsouza, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 17 2009

    Our C.M. booked special charter plane to recieve India today awards and it was reported in one of the television news that cost of his travelling was 20 lakhs....Where is austerity?

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  • nagesh nayak, bangalore

    Thu, Sep 17 2009

    HI VINAY DSOUZA, WHY YOU ARE JEALOUS FOR CM''''''''S AWARD. DID YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SMK & SHASHI THAROOR SPENT FOR STAY IN DELHI. RUPEES ONE LAC PER DAY FOR RENT IN POSH STAR HOTEL IN DELHI. DURING ELECTION THEY TALK ONLY ABOUT POVERTY & AGRICULTURE. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MMS SPENT ON FOREIGN TOURS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SONIA & FAMILY IS SPENDING .PLEASE BE PATIENT & IF YOU HAVE GUTS COMMENT ON OTHERS NOT ONLY ON BJP.

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  • M.Mathias, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 17 2009

    Mr. Yeddyurappa doesn''''''''t like central BJP leadrs but he likes central Congress leaders.

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  • vinay dsouza, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 17 2009

    Our C.M. booked special charter to recieve India today awards and it was reported in one of the television news that cost of his travelling was 20 lakhs....Where is austerity?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • shahnawaz kukkikatte, dubai/udupi

    Thu, Sep 17 2009

    Our CM has shown the qualities of good leaders. A leader always leads by example and learns from others and sets his own mistake correct after learning that it was a mistake. I really appreciate the initiative. After all its us tax payers money and if saved and spent with responsibility we can bring about positive changes to our state. All the best CM sahab...

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