CM's prerogative to present budget: H D Revanna

BELAGAVI: Commenting on the confusion over presentation of the budget, PWD Minister H D Revanna said Chief Minister has absolute authority on the issue of presenting the budget as his younger sibling H D Kumaraswamy was duly elected Chief Minister by Congress-JD (S) alliance. Addressing media persons in Belagavi after review of developmental programmes taken up by  his department he said, the CM could decide on what he wanted to do as head of the government. ''You can ask the CM himself if he will present the  budget or not. I will not comment on it,'' Mr Revanna replied to a question on confusion prevailing over the budget between the alliance partners. However, he did not elaborate on the issue calling it as a CM's prerogative.

Earlier, he told MLAs and officers that he would meet Union roadway minister Nitin Gadkari to seek extra funds for works to be taken up by his department in the state. The Union government approved projects worth Rs 7,500 crore under the central road fund, but it released only Rs 500 crore per year, which was the cess collected from the state. ''At this rate, we need 12 years to complete our works. How can we work with such constraints. That is why I am going to meet Mr Gadkari in New Delhi to seek additional funds to match the projects,'' the minister said. 

He called upon officers to go ahead with works related to reconstruction of damaged structures, filling of potholes and removal of obstacles to get the road cleared for smooth traffic. While asking his officials not to wait for financial sanctions from the department for works that needed immediate attention, he said, such works should be completed at a fast pace as the department would released the needed funds on time. “When it comes to taking up all these works, please think that I have given you a blank check on this matter", he said. He said, the officers must take up works suggested by MLAs and MPs on a priority basis.