LIMA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's political impasse between the central government and provincial governments worsened Friday as President Evo Morales abruptly announced the slashing of provincial budgets.

    Morales announced a plan to cut revenues provinces receive from natural gas exports by 30 percent and to use the savings to carry out social programs favored by his ruling party.

    This plan apparently has worsened the political deadlock between the president and local governments.

    The opposition immediately accused him of breaking his previous promise to negotiate with local governments to incorporate their demands for autonomy into a new constitution proposed by him.

    Branko Marinkovic, an opposition leader from eastern Santa Cruzprovince, said the government claimed it wanted dialogue, but it did exactly the opposite by cutting the revenues of provinces.

    "I think the Bolivian people are tired of this double-speak and the constant lies we are living in this country," he told the media.

    Four of Bolivia's nine provinces, located in eastern Bolivia and rich in oil and gas, declared independence last month to protest the proposed constitution. They said the constitution neglected their rights and demands.