*Worst performance in Distt Sector, Area Specific Grants
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 3: The development expenditure in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been alarmingly low during the first half of the current financial year, raising serious concerns over the execution of works under UT Sector, District Sector and Area Development Grants (District Development Councils, Block Development Councils and Panchayati Raj Institutions).
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As per the data available on the Janbhagidari portal of the Government, which is an initiative to bring transparency in the execution of works by enabling citizens to overview works/projects being implemented in their areas and become a partner in the process of development, during the ongoing fiscal year a whopping 1,05,135 works were approved across the Union Territory with an allocation of Rs 9,83,435.20 lakh.
However, the ground reality paints a grim picture as in the first six months expenditure of only Rs 1,30,749.79 lakh has been recorded, which is a mere fraction of the released funds. “While the release of funds has been fairly substantial, the failure lies in their effective utilization, exposing glaring weaknesses in the implementation machinery at multiple levels”, sources said.
As far as UT Sector is concerned, a total of 31627 works were approved and an amount of Rs 90,2391.64 lakh was released. However, the cumulative expenditure is only Rs 1,30,153.33 lakh.
What is more disturbing is the pathetic performance in the District Sector, which is considered the backbone of grassroots-level development. In fact, the situation is even worse in respect of Area-Development Grants, where funds earmarked for focused development interventions in identified regions have remained largely unspent.
As per the details available on the portal, under District Sector, a total of 8984 works were approved at a cost of Rs 38749.31 lakh. Against this, an amount of Rs 24249.96 lakh was released to the districts. However, the cumulative expenditure has remained Rs 330.80 lakh.
Likewise, a total of 64524 works were approved at a cost of Rs 98357.30 lakh under Area Development Grants. Against this, an amount of Rs 56793.61 lakh was released. However, expenditure has remained dismally low at Rs 265.66 lakh.
Observers point out that such an abysmally low pace of expenditure not only delays much-needed works but also risks surrender of funds at the close of the financial year, thereby depriving the UT of crucial development gains.
“”The Government has been repeatedly stressing timely completion of works and judicious utilization of resources, but the numbers tell a different story. Unless accountability is fixed at the implementing agency level, the situation will persist year after year,” sources remarked, adding “the dismal expenditure trend, if not immediately corrected, threatens to derail the development agenda of the UT and further widen the gap between planning and execution”.
They further said, “the situation has been further aggravated by unprecedented rainfall this year, which has badly hampered the pace of works. Adding to the woes, the forthcoming winter season is set to drastically curtail the working period in large parts of J&K, particularly in hilly and snow-bound areas. This means that not only will the already approved projects remain incomplete, but people will also be deprived of the benefits of the planned developmental works”.
“Despite monthly reviews and repeated directions from the higher authorities, no accountability has been fixed for this poor performance. Unless the Government links fund utilization with the performance appraisal of officers, the story of missed targets will continue year after year”, they said.
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