Imphal, October 26: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of Finance has expressed serious concern over the fact that only Rs 238.57 crores have been utilised till September 30 this year out of the total plan outlay of Rs 1160 crores of the State for the financial year 2006-07.According to a reliable source, the Chief Minister expressed his concern over the matter during the recent plan expenditure review meeting.

While disclosing that only Rs 238.57 crores have been utilised till September 30 this year accounting only 20.57 percent of the total plan outlay of Rs 1160 crores sanctioned for the fiscal period 2006-07, the source said the Chief Minister who is also in-charge of Finance was worried that the expenditure target of 70 percent by December 31 this year might not be achieved if the present trend continues.

The failure to utilise the fund would have a direct bearing on finalising the plan outlay of the State for the next financial year.

The Chief Minister had also given strict instructions to all the Principal Secretaries and Commissioners of the departments concerned to ensure proper disbursement of the plan amount within the end of the 3rd quarter of the financial year, that is by December 31.During the meeting the Chief Secretary pointed out that some of the Departments are yet to finalise their work programmes although the first seven months of the current financial year has lapsed, the source said.

The Chief Secretary therefore made it clear that none of the Departments would be allowed to use the plan amount if the work programmes have not been approved, the source added.

Pointing out that 40 percent of the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) which the Centre had released should be disbursed and utilised by the Departments concerned within October 31, the source said that the Chief Secretary had also given strict instructions for submitting the utilisation certificates and the progress reports of the same without which no claim for the remaining fund of the SPA projects would be entertained.

It is said that Departments concerned which are implementing the Centrally Sponsored Schemes have to first get the State share of the fund before executing any relevant project.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Education (S) and Ecology and Environment Wing are the only Depts which have been able to utilise the fund so far, the source further said.

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