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| CDF of 2018-19 may lapse in JK | | Dissolution of assembly | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: With the dissolution of the assembly, confusion prevails over the utilization of funds under constituency development fund in Jammu and Kashmir.
The state assembly was dissolved by Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 21, citing the "impossibility of forming a stable government by the coming together of political parties with opposing political ideologies" and the "fragile security scenario in the state".
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has a six-year term while other assemblies and the Lok Sabha have a five-year term. Its term was to end on March 16, 2021.
However, there is confusion how the funds would now be spent which the legislators were earlier entitled for.
"So far we are yet to decide how to spend these funds. There is presently no procedure how the government is going to deal with the constituency development funds," an official of Finance Department, said. The official said that these funds may be lapsed as only few months are left of the current fiscal. "Till any decision is taken, these funds may get lapsed. These funds may also be spent on other developmental works in the district," the official said.
The CDF scheme-a replica of Member Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund-was rolled out in 1997-98 by then Farooq Abdullah-led government.
In the beginning Rs 25 lakh per annum was allocated to each MLA, which was enhanced to Rs 35 lakh from financial year 2004-5.
In 2009-10 and 2011-12, the CDF was increased to Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore respectively. In 2012-13, then NC-Congress regime affected another hike by increasing the fund to Rs 1.50 crore. The felled PDP-BJP government increased it to Rs three crore in 2017.
The official said that Planning Development and Monitoring Department had issued earlier directives to district development commissioners to execute all the works under constituency development scheme during the suspension of state assembly. "Now as the assembly has been dissolved, there is now confusion how the funds are utilized. No order has been issued whether the administrative secretaries can utilize these funds," the official said.
Earlier the government has issued an order, which reads, "Works which have been identified prior to the pronouncement of state assembly being under suspended animation but wherein estimates for the work have not been prepared or authorised shall also be considered for grant of approval by the DDC subject to the fulfillment CDS guidelines and availability of balance funds in the account of legislator."
Earlier, Governor Satya Pal Malik had said that the Narendra Modi-led ruling government at the Centre had wanted him to install Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone as JK's chief minister before the dissolution of the assembly.
Mentioning a Supreme Court direction, the official said the outer limit for holding fresh polls after the dissolution of a house is six months, that is May 21 next year.
The National Conference has been demanding that assembly polls should be held together with parliamentary polls in March-April next year.
Earlier, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, in a tweet 'complimented' the Governor for not allowing BJP and its proxies to form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti also said, in a tweet, that Governor Malik's decision not to look up Delhi and dissolve the Assembly in JK is 'unprecedented', given the 'history of democracy in the state.' |
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