Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 10: Owing to alleged inaction by the officials, a whopping amount of Rs 4000 crore earmarked for developmental works lapsed in the previous financial year, Jammu and Kashmir Socio-Economic Coordination Committee (JKSECC) said.
A spokesperson of the JKSECC alleged that the funds lapsed due to inaction form various Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), and officials of Planning and Finance Departments. “Over 50% of the funds earmarked for the developmental works across the state had lapsed at the end of recently concluded financial year for failure in timely utilization of funds by executing departments and delayed approval and authorization by various administrative departments,” he said, adding that a high-level probe should be carried into the matter and guilty penalize
He added that a whopping amount of above Rs 4000 crore got lapsed in the previous year because of non-action by the DDOs and other officers at various levels of the administration and execution. “The inaction on the part of officials have added to already created liabilities of over Rs 1076 crore payable to the contractors and other entrepreneurs since 2014,” he said.
He alleged that the Planning and Development Department as well as Finance Department first delayed approvals and physical release of funds and then compounded their utilization with the issuance of irrational and impracticable stipulations and orders. “In many cases, the Finance Department released funds to the concerned departments on 31st of March when the last date for submitting bills to the treasuries was fixed as 30th of March by the same department,” he said.
He said that the malfunctioning on the part of concerned functionaries has led to colossal public inconvenience with the abrupt halting of maintenance and development of public assets due to a confrontation between the government and contractors.
JKSECC has sought immediate intervention of the Governor, his Advisors and Chief Secretary in the whole matter in order to come up with details and defaults in funds lapsing cases along with the action taken by the Government against erring officials.
Follow our WhatsApp channel