Rs 95 crores Non-Plan fund on brink of going wasted
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 30 2015 : In an embarrassing revelation, the Public Works Department (PWD) which is entrusted with the construction of roads and bridges for ensuring development in the State, has apparently failed to table Work Programme for fixing developmental plans and sanctioning required funds for a year with just two months left for the end of current Financial Year.

Sources said provisions like identification of roads and bridges construction and developmental projects to be taken under Non-Plan and 13th Finance Commission in a year, have to be included in the Work Programme after which proper tenders should be floated to award works to competent agencies.

However, there has been speculation on the possible loss of around 95 crore of rupees due to the failure of the department to table the Work Programme which will expire after two months for this financial year.

According to guidelines of Central Public Works Department (CPWD), work of a particular project should be executed as per provisions by the concerned agencies after awarding the same.

However, in the State, Work Programme is not accordingly chartered out.

Transparent tender for awarding works is also not floated properly.

The works are awarded to influential contractors/agencies without following laid-out guidelines.

It has been learnt that contractors are engaged by the State Government without awarding work order bypassing required norms.

In all probailty, such works will be included in framing the Work Programme.

This was akin to siphoning off funds sanctioned for the welfare of the public.

The Central Government has not released funds under Plan and Non-Plan including 13th Finance Commission for construction of roads and bridges in the State.

The State Government has to send a proposal to the Central Government to seek early release of fund from the Commission to use in limited construction of roads and bridges.

For construction of roads and bridges, it is the usual norm for the state to contribute matching share while the remaining amount will be borne by the Central Government.

The State Government has already sent proposal for roads and bridges construction under 13th Finance Commission to the Central Government.

However, the fund will not be released until Utilization Certificate for use of fund sanctioned earlier is submitted, the sources explained.

If the State Government fails to fully utilize fund sanctioned under Non-Plan and 13th Finance Commission within a year, then the Central Government will withold the remaining amount.

It is most unlikely that the State Government will be able to utilize the fund sanctioned under Non-Plan and 13th Finance Commission completely within two months.

Though an amount of 450 crore was earmarked as Special Plan Assistant (SPA) fund for the State for this year as per an agreement between the Central Government and State Government, not a penny has been sanctioned to the State Government so far despite remaining only two months for end of the current Financial Year.

This clearly implies that full amount earmarked for this year will not be released.

It has also been learnt that the Central Government had served stern warning to the State Government for failing to utilize sanctioned funds accordingly, the sources disclosed.

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