Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 12: The Block Development Council (BDC) Langate today sought relaxation in the limits imposed by the Finance Department on expenditure while demanding 100% expenditure to be allowed so that funds released do not lapse.
In this regard, Showkat H Pandith who is the Chairman of BDC, Langate, said that the Area Development Fund has been released under District Capex, and for the first time, an e-tendering procedure has been adopted for each work.
“A major chunk of the District Capex comes under the domain of Rural Development Department which has a limited capacity to take on such a huge flow of funds, as other Schemes of the Department are equally important and involve huge funds as well,” he said.
Pandith went on to say that e-tendering is a cumbersome and complex process and it is also time-consuming. “This has been a novel experience, both for the government and for the contractors as well,” he said.
While referring to the order issued by the Finance Deptt, Pandith said, among other things, it has been stated that during the last quarter of the Current Financial Year, the expenditure should be limited to 30% of the budget allocation and in March, the expenditure should be limited to the 15% of the Budget Estimates.
“This condition is ‘of course’ very nice, but keeping in view that for the first time a different route of e-tendering has been adopted, due to which the expenditure level regarding, Area Development Fund (PRI, BDC, DDC grants) is quite low,” he said
He said that a good chunk of works has not been tendered yet, also some part of the plan, which has not been found executable, has been replaced but not approved yet.
“It is my appeal to the Government and before LG to exempt the line departments especially Rural Development Department from the limits imposed on the expenditure in the last quarter and last month of the Current fiscal and 31st March 2021 should be the date of completion of works and up to 31st March 2022,” he demanded.
He also said that 100% expenditure be allowed so that funds released do not lapse and works are completed after 15th Feb up to 31st March, when the harsh winter will be over while urging LG Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter.
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