Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Assures Payment of Pending Bills for Contractors Amid Financial Review
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah discusses steps to clear pending contractor bills and responds to allegations of corruption in the government.
BNH NETWORK
Bengaluru - Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday assured that the state government will review the financial situation and take steps to clear the pending bills of contractors. Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister addressed various pressing issues related to the state's financial management and governance.
In response to a question regarding a recent meeting with officials from the State Contractors’ Association, Siddaramaiah stated that the government was aware of the outstanding payments and was committed to clearing as many pending bills as possible by April. He attributed the backlog to the previous government's decision to initiate work without securing necessary funding, which had resulted in a significant increase in pending dues. “We will do our best to pay off the pending bills, even though the previous government's actions have made it challenging. Is it possible for our government to bear this burden?” he remarked.
The Chief Minister also responded to allegations of corruption within the government, particularly regarding bribery in the contractor community. He stated unequivocally that accepting or offering bribes was a crime and that no one in his administration should be involved in such practices. “I have never taken money for releasing funds, and I strongly condemn such actions,” Siddaramaiah asserted.
Responding to a question about the possibility of DK Shivakumar becoming the Chief Minister, following remarks from senior leader Veerappa Moily, Siddaramaiah emphasized that the decision on such matters rested with the party high command. “The high command’s decision is final,” he said.
In other news, the Chief Minister confirmed that the Karnataka State Budget 2025 would be presented on March 7. Siddaramaiah stated that after the Governor’s address and the ensuing discussions in both Houses, the budget debates would continue until March 19. He also assured that he would respond to the debates in the Legislative Assembly on March 19 and in the Legislative Council on March 20.
Key Takeaways:
- CM Siddaramaiah assures pending contractor bills will be reviewed and paid by April.
- The backlog in payments is attributed to the previous government's failure to secure funds.
- The Chief Minister condemns corruption and bribery in government processes.
- The Karnataka State Budget 2025 will be presented on March 7, with debates scheduled until March 19.
