New Delhi/ Bengaluru: In the wake of Karnataka facing a severe resource crunch due to the COVID pandemic, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday urged the Centre to accept the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendation for a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore to the state on account of reduced devolution.
Yediyurappa, who is in New Delhi to take part in the Bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) of the Karnataka Bhavan, called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and asked her to accept the recommendation made by the 14th Finance Commission.
In a memorandum submitted to Sitharaman, he said that the state had received only Rs 869.40 crore as a performance grant against the recommendation of Rs 2,100.25 crore to urban and rural local bodies.
He also requested that a balance amount of Rs 1,230.85 crore be released.
Extending his gratitude for the timely release of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, Yediyurappa sought early release of outstanding material dues of nearly Rs 665.09 crore and unskilled wage dues of Rs 54.65 crore.
He also appealed to the Union government to notify an additional 50 days under the scheme as Karnataka was facing an unprecedented situation.
