| 5 months elapse, Planning department yet to authorize 100% plan | | | Akshay Azad
Jammu, Aug 22: It can be rightly called as careless approach of Planning and Development department (P&DD) that almost five crucial months of this financial year have elapsed but P&DD is yet to give 100 percent plan authorization to various Government departments, hampering various development works across the state.
Sources informed Early Times that on July 9 this year the annual plan of state was approved while the scheme of finance was conveyed to Jammu and Kashmir by Planning Commission of India.
"Despite getting scheme of finances from PCI, the state planning department has failed to give 100 percent plan authorization to Government departments, raising a serious question mark over working of P&DD and Omar Abdullah led State Government", sources said.
An official said that the file regarding 100 percent plan authorization was sent to Principal Secretary of P&DD, around 10 days back but the file has not returned back.
"It is not clear whether the file is kept by concerned Minister or Chief Secretary but due to delay in approval of 100 percent plan authorization, all departments are facing hardships", sources said.
Sources disclosed that delay on part of Planning and development department to approve 100 percent Plan authorization to all departments, would increase the possibilities of embezzlements. "Negligible funds have so far been spent in first two quarters, which will result in maximum expenditure in last months. The expenditure in last months of financial year only increases the possibilities of diversion of funds and embezzlements. Moreover it can also result into incomplete expenditure of funds", sources said.
They further said that five crucial months of this financial year have passed and in Kashmir division the working time constrained only for summer months. "Due to delay in plan authorization, majority of developmental works and prestigious schemes have been hampering while in Kashmir division majority of development works will be badly hampered", sources said, adding that even some departments have failed to release salaries of their employees.
Sources further said that initially the departments had send their proposals, considering the Annual plan of Rs. 8000 Crores but after meeting with PCI, the plan size was reduced to 7300 Crores, which had compelled the State Government to reduce plan allocation of various departments. |
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