Dy CM Shivakumar blames BJP for pending bills of contractors
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar blamed the previous BJP government on Tuesday for the issue of the large backlog of unpaid contractor bills in the state.
He said the contractors have done ‘overwork’ and the departments under his portfolio are carrying out works worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar, who has Bengaluru development and water resource portfolio, said members of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association met him and requested him to clear the pending bills.
"The biggest problem is that when the BJP was in power, they (contractors) did overwork,” the Deputy CM said.
Explaining further, he said, "In my departments alone Rs 1.2 lakh crore worth of work is in progress but I have a budget of Rs 16,000 crore and a capital of Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 6,000 crore. We can release only Rs 5,000 crore."
Shivakumar said the departments are releasing money based on seniority. However, it has been decided to clear the bills of small contractors as early as possible. He also said that Rs 5,300 crore which was supposed to come from the Centre for the Upper Bhadra project has not been released yet.
"This is the status but I have assured them that we will clear the bills based on the seniority. We will not take up major works but still as per the requirement we are taking up,” Shivakumar said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had on Monday blamed the contractors for increasing pending bills, saying tenders were floated without budgetary provisions and then the works were completed.
"The tenders were invited without budgetary allocations. The contractors participated in the process, the contracts were finalised, and the work started. That's how the pending bills accumulated. Are we responsible for it?" the chief minister asked.
After the meeting with the chief minister, the Karnataka State Contractors' Association (KSCA) alleged that the corruption prevailing now was more than what existed during the previous BJP government.
Corruption charges helped the opposition Congress launch the '40 per cent commission' allegation in Karnataka in 2023, which finally led to the ouster of the BJP.
KSCA president R Manjunath claimed before reporters that officials were harassing them to clear the bills.
He also said the contractors will meet Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to flag the corruption prevailing in the state and the harassment they are facing.
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Priyanka Gandhi urges Nitin Gadkari to expedite road projects in Kerala's Wayanad
Wayanad/New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said she met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking his intervention to expedite pending road infrastructure works in her constituency, including those aimed at addressing landslide issues at the Thamarassery pass.
Sharing photographs of the meeting on the social media platform 'X', Priyanka said Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, heard her concerns and sought updates from the relevant officials.
In her post, she expressed hope that the pressing issues she raised, which directly affect public safety and daily life, would receive the attention and urgency they deserve.
“Met respected Gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay. He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get updates from the relevant officers,” she said.
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“I sincerely hope these pressing issues, which directly affect people’s safety and daily lives, will receive the attention and urgency they deserve,” she added.
A day earlier, Priyanka had sought an appointment with Gadkari in Parliament, saying she had been seeking an opportunity since June to discuss issues related to her constituency.
Responding to her request, the minister had said his doors were always open and that she could meet him at any time.
She subsequently met him at his office later the same day.
Met respected Shri @nitin_gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 19, 2025
He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get an update from the relevant officers.
I sincerely hope these pressing issues… pic.twitter.com/UkxnXP6gxn
