Akshay Azad
Jammu, Sept 9: After a long wait of more than five months, finally the Planning and Development department (P&DD) today approved 100 percent authorization of plan funds to various departments, but it is likely to curtail departments' proposal by 25 % for the financial year 2013-14. Sources informed Early Times that on July, 9, 2013, the annual plan of state was approved by Planning Commission of India, while the scheme of finance was conveyed to state government around one month back. "Inspite of getting scheme of finances, the state P&DD failed to give 100 percent plan authorization to government departments, and the file pertaining to 100 % plan authorization was with higher officials of state bureaucracy, since last around 25 days", sources said. They further said that finally today the file was returned to Planning and development department, giving approval of 100 percent plan authorization to all departments.
"The P&DD will now curtail the proposals sent by all departments, by 25 percent as the plan allocation to state was not enhanced by 10 % as proposed by state government", sources said.
They further informed that the P&DD, had issued two circulars regarding approval of funds. "In the first circular, the P&DD had approved all departments to utilize 25 % of funds as per last financial year's plan allocation, while in the second circular the P&DD had asked all departments to utilize 50 percent of funds as per proposed plan of state that was Rs. 8000 Crores", sources said.
Sources further divulged that in the meantime during the meeting of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with Deputy Chairman PCI, Montek Singh Ahluwalia the demand of 10 percent hike in annual plan for financial year 2013-14 was not accepted and PCI approved only Rs. 7300 Crores as annual plan.
"All the departments have sent proposals, assuming annual plan for 2013-14 as Rs. 8000 Crores and have already executed works, so due to no enhancement in plan allocation, the P&DD is likely to curtail proposals of all departments by 25 percent", sources said.
They further informed that as per the proposals sent by all departments, the capital component was likely to be curtailed, while there was no possibility to reduce revenue component.
"Within coming few days, after curtailment in proposals, the departments will be approved to utilize 100 percent funds", an official seeking anonymity said. |
