Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19 2010:
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is reported to be extremely upset with the performance of many of his Ministerial colleagues who have been advised to ensure timely utilisation of the allocated fund.
For the record, out of 51 Departments under the State Government fund utilisation of 25 departments is informed to be nil in the first four months of the current fiscal.
According to an official source, the CM has conveyed displeasure at the manner of fund utilisation by Ministers concerned who have been intimated through letters to constantly monitor usage of plan allocations in their respective departments.
The CM's messages had reportedly pointed out that only Rs 56.20 crores (2.15 percent) have been utilised in the first four months of the current financial year.
Apart from the CM expressing annoyance at the performances of the Ministers especially in the execution of development programmes under the SPA allocation for the 2009-10 fiscal, the missives also seriously noted that out of a total of Rs 128.89 crores utilised so far, utilisation certificate as well as progress report could be furnished to the Planning Commission for only Rs 53.25 crores.
The source further disclosed that out of the total SPA allocation of Rs 610.50 crores in the previous fiscal, release/utilisation of Rs 403.15 crores was authorised while the balance amount of Rs 207.35 crores has been deposited in the State Government's account (8449) .
O Ibobi Singh, who also holds the Finance portfolio has also advised Ministers concerned to furnish/submit detailed report of SPA fund utilisation for the current as well as previous fiscal to the Planning Commission at the earliest, the source informed while adding that the CM strongly recommended that the Ministers ensure proper and expeditious utilisation of the balance amount currently in the Govt account.
In his intimation to the Ministers, the CM reiterated that utilisation of fund for the previous years under SPA is of paramount importance for release of funds under SPA 2010-11 and such a release would depend only after submission of utilisation certificates and progress reports to the Planning Commission of India.
The Ministers have also been reminded that progress of expenditure under SPA in particular and expenditure under 'normal plan and other ACAs' should be monitored on regular basis so that all the plan funds could be utilised in time without any time lag.