‘Progress under Capex Budget not up to desired level’
Stress laid on close monitoring of infra development
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 8: Expressing concern over unsatisfactory physical and financial progress registered under Capex Budget for the current financial year by majority of the departments, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has directed all the Administrative Secretaries to accelerate utilization of funds as well as completion of works so that people can reap the benefits of infrastructure development well in time.
Vide communication dated September 14, 2023 the Finance Department directed all the Administrative Secretaries for stepping up physical and financial progress under Capex Budget 2023-24 and thereafter a reminder was also sent in this regard.
However, the cumulative physical progress ending November 2023 indicated that out of 43640 works approved in the current year’s Action Plan only 30152 works (69.09%) were allotted and merely 7827 works (25.31%) were completed.
“Considering the fact that we are in the last quarter of the current financial year, the allotment and execution of works needs to be expedited as per the codal formalities for stepping up infrastructure development”, Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, Santosh D Vaidya has mentioned in the latest communication addressed to all the Administrative Secretaries, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
“Similarly on the financial side, capital expenditure is around 47% of the released funds. This needs to be stepped up to ensure that the resources are optimally and judiciously utilized for boosting economic growth”, Principal Secretary Finance said, adding “given the favorable sharing pattern of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funding, our focus should be to avail all installments of central share, for which timely execution of works and submission of Utilization Certificates and progress reports needs to be ensured”.
Stating that implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes has improved this year, the Finance Department said, “this can be further improved with close monitoring. As regards the loan and PMDP projects, the concerned departments should expedite the physical progress of projects so that these are completed in time without any cost escalation”.
Accordingly, the Finance Department has asked all the Administrative Secretaries to undertake a detailed review of physical/financial progress and other milestones to accelerate judicious utilization of funds as well as completion of physical targets for 2023-24 financial year.
As per the department wise details about works completed with respect to works targeted for the month ending November 2023, General Administration Department has made 12.50% progress, IT Department 0%, Home Department 27.54%, Planning 24.70%, Mining Department 20%, Power Development Department 12.12%, School Education Department 9.66%, Law Department 17.86%, Industries and Commerce 13.16%, Agriculture Production Department 49.65%, Floriculture 2.04%, Animal and Sheep Husbandry/Fisheries 16.06%, Revenue 11.11%, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs 53.57%.
Likewise, Roads and Buildings Department has made 43.30% progress, Social Welfare Department 0%, Housing and Urban Development 37.43%, Tourism Department 19.82%, Forest Department 35.81%, Jal Shakti Department 19.43%, Hospitality and Protocol Department 27.27%, Estates Department 6.83%, Labour and Employment 150%, ARI and Trainings Department 0%, Higher Education Department 48.72%, Rural Development Department 27.15%, Transport Department 0%, Culture Department 8.33%, Horticulture Department 6.67%, Tribal Affairs 15.53%, Disaster Management Department 0%, Youth Services and Sports Department 43.97%, Skill Development 33.88%, Science and Technology Department 0% and Cooperative Department 12.68%.
As far as expenditure against total availability of funds is concerned, majority of the departments have registered less than 50% progress for the month ending November 2023. Jal Shakti (48.13%), Power Development Department (44.89%), Civil Aviation (43.42%), Planning (40.49%), Social Welfare (38.77%), Health Department (35.72)%), Higher Education Department (33.47%), R&B Department (32.01%), Housing Department (31%), Home Department (30.51%), Skill Development (30.16%), Youth Services and Sports (30.03%), Forest Department (27.93%), Tourism Department (27.73%), School Education Department (23.85%), Mining Department (21.45%), Revenue Department (18.59%), Horticulture (17.07%), Culture Department (16.03%), Agriculture Department (15.04%) and Tribal Affairs (13.49%) etc.
Cooperative, Information Technology, Labour and Employment, Hospitality and Protocol and Transport Departments have made progress less than 10%.
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