No hope for development of roads & bridges this year
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 21 2013:
Even as the Planning Commission of India has fixed the State's annual plan outlay for the year 2013-14 at Rs.3650 crores, the State Public Works Department (PWD) is left with a meagre fund for development of roads and bridges after spending huge sum on repaying debts.
According to a highly placed official source, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi chaired a meeting of Works Advisory Board for formulation of Work Programme for the current financial year just two days back.
The officials had termed the budgetary allocation of Works Department as a "plan holiday" .
The source further said that the total outlay of Major Head (MH)-4059 (PAB) is Rs.102 crores, out of which Rs.96.56 crores has been earmarked for the Planning Department while the remaining Rs.5.44 crores for the Works Department.
Out of the earmarked fund for the Works Department, Rs.50 lakhs would be utilized for construction of Judiciary Building, Rs.5 lakhs each for land development at Gurgaon and Sendra Tourist Home, Rs.20 lakhs for repairing of State Guest House at Sanjenthong, Rs.20 lakhs for development of transit hostel at Sanjenthong and Rs.10 lakhs for information technology.
The share of Works Department from Rs.450 crores under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) would be utilized in the construction of Capitol Complex and Mini Secretariat.
Rs.66 crores would be utilized for the Capitol Project and Rs.20 crores for the Mini Secretariat.
Only Rs.2 crores has been allocated for development of roads and bridges under the Works Department.
The officials of Works Department said that the allocated amount would not be sufficient even for repairing the roads.
There is no hope for further development of roads and bridges in the state this year.
Rs.1.96 crores has been included in the Major Head for repayment of debts of Public Works Department, while Rs.37.57 lakhs has been earmarked for the salaries of employees on work-charge, muster-roll, casual and contract along with the home guards.
Moreover, only Rs.3 crores has been earmarked for PWD at the Major Head-4216 (Housing).
More than Rs.50 crores is to be spent annually for repairing of government quarters and offices of Ministers, but maintenance with just Rs.3 crores is almost impossible, the officials said.
But, major roads of the State could be developed as usual from the funds of National Highways, Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), Central Road Fund, Border Area Development Programme, ISC and CSA, the source maintained.
The State Government must also produce its share in all the centrally-sponsored projects and it has earmarked the funds for such projects.
It is unlikely for most roads and bridges in the State to get developed in this current financial year.