IMPHAL, Aug 24: The consequence of late finalization and sectoral allocation of the current financial year, 2010-11 in the state has affected seriously the utilization of funds meant for development.
According to a highly placed official source, the overall expenditure under Annual Plan 2010-11 upto June this year was Rs. 37.45 crores which was only 1.44 percent against the approved outlay of Rs. 2600 crores.
The source further mentioned that as many as 34 departments have incurred nil expenditure during the first three months of the financial year. Besides the utilization of funds under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) for the financial years 2009-10 could not reach half of the total released amount till date. As per the official report only Rs. 290.09 crores which is 47.52 percent was drawn and utilised upto March this year as against the total outlay of Rs. 160.50 crores.
The source further mentioned that a huge amount of Rs. 320.41 crores (52.48 percent) of the SPA fund for the last financial year is still lying under MH-8449.
The poor expenditure and utilization of SPA funds in the state were seriously marked by the chief minister O Ibobi Singh during the recently held review meeting of the state plan expenditure of the state.
The official source also informed that the chief minister after considering existing trend of expenditure of plan money as well funds for the SPA, gave his suggestion on the need for line departments to take specific steps to improve performance considerably from the 2nd quarter onwards.
Regarding the poor expinditure in the SPA fund, the chief minister further advised the concerned head of department’s presence in the meeting to review plan expenditure by the departments on monthly basis and make all efforts to utilize at least 50 percent of the Plan fund by September 30 next month. Further, the target should be to utilize 70 percent of the plan funds by December this year, he said.
The chief minister further advised all heads of departments concerned to review and take effective steps for utilization of SPA 2009-10 and Annual Plan 2010-11 funds for extending benefits of development to the people. To reiterate, the flow of expenditure should be organised in such a manner to avoid the rush during the closing months of the financial year and also further advised that the heads of departments may directly inform him if there are any specific problems hampering utilization of the plan funds.
The source further mentioned that the chief minister during the recent expenditure review meeting directed the heads of departments that for departments which have large utilized balance SPA, 2009-10 funds, it is necessary to take steps to withdraw from MH-8449 and utilize the same. Utilization Certificates (UCs) and Project Reports (PRs) should be furnished to the Planning department every month for claiming release of SPA funds under 2010-11.
As per the official reports, the departments having nil expenditure for the current financial year include Forest, Vety & AH, Cooperation, Int. Rural Energy Prog, DRDA Adm, Hariyali/ IWDP, BRGF, Land Reforms, Rural Roads (PMGSY) MLA, LADP, MSRRDA, NREGP CD & Panchayat IAY (Rural Shelter), Border Area Dev Programme, LDA, Power, Non Conv. Source of Energy, Mining, Roads & Bridges, Motor Vehicles, Information Technology, Special Dev Fund, SPA, Treasury, Tourism, Civil Supplies, Weights & Measures, Higher Education, Technical education, Sports (YAS), Medical & Public Health, Rental Housing, Police Housing, Employment, Craftsmen Training, MDS, Nutrition, Press, Stationary, Public works (PAB), Legal Aids and Advice, GAD and Disaster Management.
Besides, some of the departments like Social Security & Social Welfare, Tribal Development, Major and Medium Irrigation, CADA have recorded satisfactory expenditures of the Plan money for the current financial year, the source added.