SRINAGAR: Denying that any funds have lapsed, Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra today said an amount of Rs 754.88 crore was provided by the state Planning Department for the implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes during last financial year and against which Rs 688.82 crore have been spent by the end of March, 2013.
Replying to a question,in the Legislative Assembly here, the Minister said the funds under centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) do not lapse, adding that unspent balances at the end of the financial year were revalidated by the departments concerned in the following years for their utilisation.
Contesting Mr Sadhotra’s claim, CPI (M) leader Yousuf Tarigami said the Government has failed to utilise the funds between 30 per cent and 55 per cent.
He wondered if the Government failed to utilise the funds last year, how was it possible to utilise upspent funds of last year and new funds of this year.
The work season was already over in the hilly areas and would end soon in plain in Kashmir, Mr Tarigami said.
However, the Minister said funds from the Centre were being released late.
He informed that at the end of 2012-13 out of the total availability of Central share of Rs 4703.31 crore, an amount of Rs 1150.55 crore has remained un-utilised under different centrally sponsored schemes.
He said the same were now being utilised by the departments in the current year after its revalidation.
Mr Sadhotra said the decisions taken in the District Development Board meetings were implemented promptly as far as possible.
He, however, said the decisions involving policy matters and having huge financial implications are critically examined by the administrative departments concerned and if found technically feasible were implemented in a phased manner subject to availability of resources.
The Planning Minister said the developmental works in the State particularly in respect of CSS have not been hampered for want of matching state share.
He said while conveying authorisation of the annual plans, the departments were advised to earmark the state share out of their allocations for the projects to be taken up under NABARD as per the norms and guidelines of the schemes adding that similarly, matching state share as per the funding pattern was being released in respect of various flagship programmes and CSS. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel