Karnataka CM accuses Centre of reducing urea supply by 1.66 lakh metric tonnes, warns of serious impact on farmers despite favourable rains and high sowing activity
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday alleged that the ongoing urea shortage in the state is a direct result of the central government reducing the state’s allocation at a time when sowing activities are in full swing following favourable monsoon rains.
The Chief Minister expressed his concerns during a review meeting on governance and development issues with district in-charge ministers, cabinet colleagues, and MLAs. He highlighted that Karnataka has received good rainfall this season, and as a result, sowing activities have increased significantly across the state. However, he warned that the reduced supply of urea could severely affect farmers during this crucial agricultural phase.
"Despite the non-cooperation of the Centre, our farmers should not face any problem," Siddaramaiah said during the meeting.
According to the CM, the state requires 11.17 lakh metric tonnes of urea for the entire monsoon season, with 6.81 lakh metric tonnes needed between April and July. However, the central government has supplied only 5.17 lakh metric tonnes, creating a shortfall of 1.66 lakh metric tonnes. Siddaramaiah noted that the demand for urea has increased due to an additional 2 lakh hectares of sorghum cultivation this year.
He criticised the BJP’s protests over the issue, calling them politically motivated and “shameful”, urging legislators to explain the situation to their constituencies. He also stressed on the need for constant communication with officials to find immediate solutions and protect farmers' interests.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that Karnataka's per capita income ranks number one in the country, and linked this to the five guarantee schemes implemented by his government. He encouraged MLAs and ministers to educate voters about this correlation and said that the government’s welfare and economic policies are yielding tangible results.
Taking a dig at the previous BJP-led administration, Siddaramaiah alleged that it had taken up projects worth ₹2.70 lakh crore without allocating funds, and sanctioned works worth ₹1.66 lakh crore under the CM’s discretionary quota, leaving behind unpaid bills exceeding ₹72,000 crore.
He also highlighted that the Centre has reduced Karnataka’s tax share by 23%, citing the 15th Finance Commission report, leading to a cumulative loss of ₹68,000 crore over five years. He urged party leaders to communicate this financial burden to their voters.
Massive Welfare and Budgetary Expenditures
Despite these financial challenges, Siddaramaiah said the state government is spending ₹52,000 crore annually on the guarantee schemes alone. The total annual spending on guarantees, social pensions, subsidies, and direct benefit transfer schemes stands at ₹1.12 lakh crore.
Additionally, the state will allocate ₹1,24,440 crore this fiscal year for salaries and pensions, a rise attributed to the 7th Pay Commission implementation. The government also plans to spend ₹83,200 crore on capital expenditure, which is 20.03% of the state budget—the highest in the country. On top of this, an additional ₹45,600 crore is earmarked for debt servicing.
Siddaramaiah reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline while fulfilling welfare responsibilities and correcting the economic mismanagement of the previous administration.
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