Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 11: Though the 13th Finance Commission has been liberal in granting funds for the developmental and other activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Government has failed to make good use of the allocations during the past three years with crores of rupees remaining un-utilized particularly in the priority sectors.
According to the figures available with EXCELSIOR, out of total Rs 4,325 crore special purpose grants (other than non-plan revenue deficit grant) recommended by the 13th Finance Commission for the award period (2010-2015), an amount of Rs 1853.25 crore has been cumulatively received by the State Government till March 31, 2013. However, Utilization Certificates aggregating to Rs 317.69 crore were pending with the concerned departments till September 2013 for rendition to the Union Government.
As far as grant-in-aid for the State specific needs is concerned, the 13th Finance Commission had recommended Rs 350 crore. Against this recommendation, an amount of Rs 106.64 crore was released in 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, the State Government could spend only Rs 46.29 crore as a result of which Rs 60.35 crore remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013.
“This clearly indicates that State Government is only interested in making huge projections for the developmental activities but actually it doesn’t have the capacity to spend the amount and make good use of the funds”, sources said, adding “in all those areas where the State Government could not fully utilize the funds released during 2011-12 no funds were released in 2012-13 financial year”.
“Though these grants are for five year period and short-utilization in any year can be made good in subsequent years yet keeping in view the slackness in ensuring full utilization of the released funds during the past three years it can be easily presumed that State Government would not be able to gear up the funds utilization in last two years of the award period”, sources said, adding “in this way the State Government is unlikely to avail full benefit of the liberal assistance from the 13th Finance Commission”.
For the PSC Complex at Srinagar, Rs 15 crore recommended by the Finance Commission was released in two installments—Rs 7.50 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 7.50 crore in 2012-13. However, State could utilize only 50% of the released amount (Rs 7.50 crore) and the remaining Rs 7.50 crore remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013.
Similarly, for the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, an amount of Rs 8.51 crore was released in 2011-12 against recommendation of Rs 50 crore. However, entire amount remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013 thereby indicating that State Government doesn’t have the capacity to spend the liberal financial assistance.
For Kargil roads, against Rs 25 crore recommended by the Finance Commission, an amount of Rs 5.12 crore was released in 2011-12 but till March 21, 2013 not even single penny could be spent and the entire amount remained un-utilized. Likewise, for Wullar Lake, an amount of Rs 30 crore was released in 2011-12 but State could utilize only Rs 16.26 crore and the remaining Rs 13.74 crore remained un-utilized.
The Finance Commission had recommended Rs 15 crore for power sector in Leh and against this an amount of Rs 3.76 crore was released in 2011-12 but State utilized only Rs 2.57 crore and remaining Rs 1.19 crore remained un-utilized till March, 31, 2013. For Sports Complex and Youth Hostel Leh, an amount of Rs 5 crore was released in 2011-12 against Commission’s recommendation of Rs 20 crore but not even a single penny could be utilized till date.
Similarly, for bridges in Leh, an amount of Rs 3 crore against recommendation of Rs 15 crore was released in 2011-12 but the entire amount remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013. The fate of funds released for cold storage at Leh also remains that of bridges as Rs 3.75 crore released in 2011-12 could not be spent till March 31, 2013.
According to the data, for the Elementary Education, the 13th Finance Commission had recommended Rs 449 crore assistance to the State. Of this, Rs 255 crore was released during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 but the State could utilize only Rs 165 crore and remaining Rs 90 crore remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013.
Similarly, for delivery of justice against recommended amount of Rs 104.46 crore, an amount of Rs 31.33 crore was released in three years but the State could ensure expenditure of Rs 15.43 crore thereby rendering Rs 15.90 crore un-utilized. For maintenance of forests, against recommended amount of Rs 133 crore, an amount of Rs 41.58 crore was released in three years. However, the utilization was only Rs 18.73 crore and remaining Rs 22.85 crore remained un-utilized.
For employee and pension data base, the Finance Commission had recommended assistance of Rs 5 crore out of which Rs 2.50 crore was released in 2010-11. However, the released amount remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013.
Likewise, an amount of Rs 4.40 crore was released in 2011-12 for improvement of statistical system at State/District Level but the amount remained un-utilized till March 31, 2013.
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