Bengaluru, March 4: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday pointed fingers at the previous BJP-led government for the massive backlog of unpaid contractor bills in the state, highlighting a challenging scenario of financial constraints.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru after meeting representatives of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA), Shivakumar, who holds the portfolios of Bengaluru Development and Water Resources, revealed that contractors had undertaken "overwork" during the BJP’s tenure, resulting in accumulated dues.
Massive Gap Between Works Undertaken and Available Budget
Shivakumar disclosed that within his departments alone, ongoing projects worth approximately Rs 1.2 lakh crore are currently underway. However, he noted the stark contrast in available resources, stating, "I have a budget of Rs 16,000 crore, with a capital of merely Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 6,000 crore. We can release only Rs 5,000 crore."To address this financial shortfall, Shivakumar assured the KSCA representatives that his departments would prioritize bill payments based on seniority. He added that the government has made a decision to expedite payments specifically to smaller contractors, aiming to alleviate immediate financial burdens.
Additionally, Shivakumar brought attention to delays in central funding, noting that Rs 5,300 crore promised by the Union government for the crucial Upper Bhadra project has not yet been released.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Points to Procedural Issues
This comes a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attributed the piling contractor bills to procedural irregularities under the previous administration. He explained that tenders had been floated without proper budgetary allocations, leading to contractors initiating and completing works for which funding was not secured."The tenders were invited without budgetary provisions. Contractors participated, contracts were awarded, and work commenced, which resulted in these accumulating bills. Are we responsible?" Siddaramaiah questioned.
Contractors Allege Rising Corruption
The meeting with top state leaders did not fully placate the contractors, with the KSCA alleging increased corruption levels compared to the previous BJP regime. R Manjunath, President of KSCA, told the media that state officials are currently harassing contractors over bill clearances. Manjunath announced plans to escalate these grievances by meeting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi to highlight the ongoing corruption and harassment faced by contractors in Karnataka.Corruption Charges Impacted BJP’s Ouster in 2023
Corruption allegations against the previous BJP government had become a major political flashpoint, with the Congress party running a strong campaign around a "40 per cent commission" claim. These accusations significantly influenced voter sentiment and contributed to the eventual removal of the BJP government from power in 2023.Shivakumar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving pending bills systematically, assuring contractors of fair and prioritized payments despite the state's current financial limitations.
