Guarantees not causing fund crunch, insists Satish Jarkiholi

NT Belagavi

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi denied the Opposition’s claim that the State government was running low on funds on account of the guarantee schemes which cost the exchequer Rs 52,000 crore yearly. Speaking exclusively to News Trail on the sidelines of the winter session at Belagavi’s Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Jarkiholi addressed demands made recently by first-time BJP MLAs that they be granted special grants worth Rs 100 crore each, citing dearth of funds since they were elected in May 2023.

Although not a first-time MLA, BJP lawmaker representing Karkala, V Sunil Kumar had even demanded a white paper detailing the amount of funds released to each constituency since the Congress came to power. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly planning to announce a Rs 6,000 crore development fund, which might alleviate some of the concerns. Jarkiholi, who is considered one of the most influential ministers in Siddaramaiah’s corner, has in the past expressed a desire to be the next Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.

Q. Recently, first-time BJP MLAs demanded a special grant of Rs 100 crore for each of their constituencies. They suggest that they haven’t been receiving sufficient funds due to the five guarantees. How do you respond?

A. MLAs making demands is not out of the ordinary. This is nothing new. The government is releasing funds as per the Budget. Others are demanding extra funds and the CM has accepted the demands. As for the guarantees, it is a separate issue to the funds being demanded. The two have nothing to do with each other.

Q. Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar has even demanded a white paper on the amount of funds disbursed to each constituency. Will you accept the demand?

A. The government is ready to do that.

Q. The BJP has been playing up the waqf issue. They claim that the Karnataka State Board of Auqaaf (KSBA) is claiming lands of farmers. Are you satisfied with the responses given by your Cabinet colleagues CM Siddaramaiah and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda?

A. The government’s reply is factual. There is no issue in it (waqf). The government is in the right on this. What they (the BJP) is saying is entirely wrong and they’ve been misguiding people. Krishna Byre Gowda’s reply was on point.

Q. Do you think the BJP will be able to make a flash point of the waqf issue or are the three by-poll losses proof they haven’t been able to do so?

A. People haven’t responded to it (waqf issue as a poll plank). This is because it’s a personal issue (land dispute) and not a State issue. It had to do with individuals and as such, it hasn’t yielded any success. There was no public interest involved.

Q. As the Belagavi District In-Charge Minister, what do you make of the discussions surrounding north Karnataka that took place during the winter session? Do you support the demand by many MLAs in the region that there should be a Kittur-Karnataka Development Board along the lines of Kalyana-Karnataka Regional Development Board?

A. We have already made allocations (to the region). It would be more prudent to make fresh demands before the next Budget. As for the Kittur-Karnataka Development Board, it can be done. It’s not a problem. We already have a Board for Hyderabad-Karnataka. If it is emulated in this region as well, it would be good. Industries are also trickling into the region. Development is happening in Hyderabad-Karnataka and Mumbai-Karnataka.

Q. What other issues pertaining to north Karnataka do you think need to be addressed?

A. The session ran smoothly but it is difficult to be satisfied completely. On certain issues, the government’s response is sought. A (positive) decision has to be made on the raising of the Almatti Dam’s height (to 524.2 metres). The Central government has already given their nod. It is our responsibility to implement it. There are other issues as well, particularly smaller irrigation projects. The (State) government should see to them as well.