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| GOI released funds for Rural Development Deptt kept unspent for years in Govt treasury | | Rules undermined with impunity, interest on parked payment not paid | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 30: A serious misappropriation of funds has been found in Rural Development Department unraveling how the norms set by the Government of India for the allocation of funds for various developmental works were being undermined in an outright manner by the erstwhile regimes here.
Documents reveal that up till the financial year of 2014-15, the government of India’s Ministry of Rural Development used to release funds directly to Jammu & Kashmir State Rural Roads Development Agency (JKSRRDA) which is the nodal agency for the execution of the developmental projects in rural belt of Jammu and Kashmir.
From 2014-15 onward, however, the funds were routed through the State Government’s Finance Department and these funds were required to be transferred to the JKSRDDA within three working days from the date of receipt, failing which the state government was liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum for the period of delay beyond the specified period.
However, the details emerging thereof are more shocking and disturbing. Government of India’s Ministry of Rural Development released Rs 3,049.77 crore including Rs 487 crore (2014-15: Rs 124 crore; 2016-17: Rs 363 crore) received for land acquisition to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir during the years 2014-15 to 2017-18. The funds released were not transferred to JKSRRDA within three working days, and the delay ranged between 11 to 259 days with the result, the State Government (Finance Department) was liable to pay JKSRRDA Rs 53.34 crore as interest, which has not been paid.
As per the official documents, neither funds were released within the prescribed time period of three days nor was interest paid by Finance Department. Early Times has already reported about how out of 2,202 habitations sanctioned for connectivity by the GoI during the period 2000-2018, a total of 508 (23 per cent) habitations remained to be connected.
Furthermore, out of 196 habitations (Ramban: 20; Rajouri: 36; Udhampur: 87; Jammu: 10, Baramulla: 8; Ganderbal: 7; Kupwara: 7; Anantnag: 19 and Leh: 2) sanctioned for connectivity by the GoI during the period 2000-2018, a total of 85 (43 per cent) habitations remained to be connected. Out of unconnected habitations, a total of 112 habitations with a population of 1,000 persons and above, 276 habitations with a population of 500 persons and above, and 656 habitations with a population of 250 persons and above remained unconnected, which was required to be completed by the end of March 2003 and March 2007 respectively.
Furthermore, out of 139 habitations sanctioned for connectivity to 51 habitations with the population of 250 and above remained unconnected. This is being attributed to disturbed conditions in the union territory and problems faced in the acquisition of land, forest clearance and lengthy court cases; the targets could not be achieved.
However, out of Rs 710 crore special onetime dispensation provided by the GoI for the cost of land acquisition covering compensatory afforestation, forest land, trees, private land and structures for completion of PMGSY programme, an amount of Rs 152.04 crore was still lying with the PIUs. Also, against an amount of Rs 370.70 crore released by the PIUs to the concerned authorities for acquisition of land, only Rs 44.51 crore was utilised/ disbursed for acquisition of land. Moreover, the department was required to ensure the availability of land before approval of DPRs by the competent authority. |
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