Addressing the reporters, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked, "First of all, I want them (Karnataka government) to say why in May 2023, four projects totalling Rs 20,000 crores, were stopped? Why is 'Jal Jeevan Mission' which is bringing drinking water to every house not being encouraged?"
Expressing disappointment in the state government's reluctance to utilise the benefits of central programs, Sitharaman cited Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's recent statement. She said, "They don't want to do it (avail the benefits of the Centre's program) and that is why I was very fascinated by the comment which I think Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has made that he will now, in the context of all the water shortages and everything else happening, he will invest and focus more on irrigation projects rather than building roads. So it's a conceding of a point by the state's own deputy chief minister. "
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Highlighting the Centre's commitment, the Finance Minister remarked, "So it is not Centre giving fund or not. You don't put it in the right hand. You stop it in May 2023 and then after the year you say no, I will put it all for irrigation. Now they have accepted their own bad planning or you started in one direction, you are going in a different direction. The central government is continuing with its 'Jal Jeevan Mission' as much as all the commitments which are given for irrigation as well."