Some Chairpersons blame Admn, others cite disputes
Doda tops in expenditure; Jammu, Ramban, Kishtwar at bottom
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 2: Due to a variety of reasons, the District Development Councils (DDCs) in their first financial year were unable to utilize 20 to 50 percent of Capex (Capital Expenditure) budget which will not be carried forward to new financial year of 2022-23 for which the budget is yet to be finalized.
Jammu, Ramban and Kishtwar districts have almost lost 50 percent of Capex budget while Doda district though being mountain locked and having mostly the hilly areas has topped with almost 90 percent expenditure, official data obtained by the Excelsior from DDCs of the Jammu region, revealed.
Jammu district which has Rs 86 crore worth Capex budget was able to utilize only 50-55 percent of it during just ended financial year of 2021-22. Rest of the budget has lapsed as there has been no provision to carry forward one financial year’s budget to another, official sources said.
DDC Jammu Chairman Bharat Bushan (BJP) explained that tendering process of even small works, tendering and retendering and delayed decision to give authority to local youth for small contracts were major reasons behind lapse of nearly 45 percent Capex budget in Jammu district.
Bushan said though many DDC Chairpersons demanded that the lapsed Capex budget should be allowed to carry forward for next financial year of 2022-23, there has been no such provisions and 45 percent budget of Jammu district stood lapsed.
Ramban and Kishtwar, the two hilly districts in Doda region have also fared badly in Capex budget expenditure. Both districts registered 50 percent expenditure only.
DDC Kishtwar Chairperson Puja Thakur (National Conference), when asked about reasons for lapse of half of the budget, observed that there has been no accountability in the district administration.
“District administration of Kishtwar is to be entirely blamed for lapse of budget. Initially, we were told by the administration that one bridge would require Rs 10 lakh cost for construction work. Then the cost suddenly jumped to Rs 30 lakh. This is purely the fault on part of the administration,” Thakur said.
DDC Ramban Chairperson Dr Shamshad Shan (NC) said no expenditure has been incurred in the district in two major departments including PHE and PDD. She blamed the departments for delayed tendering for lapse of the budget. In PDD, Ramban district initially got a scheme of Rs 14 crore for tenders but after six months “we were told that the scheme has been rejected”.
It was DDC Doda which has topped in Jammu region with nearly 90 percent expenditure..
“We tried to utilize 100 percent but managed to spend 90 percent of the Capex budget despite the district being surrounded by hilly areas,” DDC Doda Chairperson Dhanantar Singh (BJP) said.
“Despite Doda district having very tough terrain, we identified works in time and managed to execute them. We spent 90 percent budget,” Singh added.
Reasi district, which also has large parts of hilly belt, too manage to spend around 80 percent of Capex budget, DDC Chairman Sarf Singh Nag (BJP) said.
Expenditure in the border district of Rajouri stood at around 60 percent.
DDC Rajouri Chairman Naseem Liaquat (NC) attributed less expenditure to stay imposed on all works for 3-4 months due to which tendering process was also delayed.
“Some contractors have been blacklisted,” he said.
Udhampur district too managed to do reasonably well as compared to some other districts by recording 70 to 80 percent expenditure,
Lal Chand, DDC Udhampur Chairman (BJP), was of the view that this was first financial year of the DDCs so 20 to 30 percent budget was lost but in 2022-23 they will try to make 100 percent expenditure.
The DDC Samba has also finished almost at par with Udhampur district with 75 to 80 percent utilization of Capex budget.
DDC Samba Chairman Keshav Sharma (BJP) said there were disputes in some areas while in other sectors works were delayed due to non-availability of land.
DDC Poonch Chairperson Tazeem Akhter (Independent) told the Excelsior that they were able to spend healthy 80 percent Capex budget during just ended financial year.
“This is very good figure for the border district,” she said.
Kathua district too was able to utilise 80-60% budget. DDC Kathua chairman Mahaan Singh (BJP) said the Government must end adhocism in staff for full utilisation of budget.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
