Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: In an alarming disclosure, BJP National Executive Member & J&K Chief Spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh today accused the National Conference (NC)-Congress Coalition Government of causing over Rs 2000 crore loss to the State by allowing the plan grants to remain unutilized during its current tenure in office since 2008.
For a Government which has always complained of lack of financial support from the Center, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there could be no worse evidence than this of administrative paralysis coupled with hypocrisy. The coalition ruling parties are accountable to the people of the State whom, on the eve of election, they are trying to distract by raking up emotive, divisive issues to cover up their record of misgovernance and corruption, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh alleged that around Rs 2150 crore plan grants have remained unutilized during the last five to six years even as the fate of another Rs 2064 Special Plan Assistance (SPA) earmarked for the current fiscal year hangs in balance. Quoting official figures, he said, plan funds to the tune of Rs 2150 crore have lapsed from 2007-08 to 2012-13. Of the Rs 34,750 crore approved by Planning Commission of India (PCI) for the State since 2007-08, Rs 32,591 crore have been utilized, leaving around Rs 2150 crore unspent, he added.
Elaborating further, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in 2007-08, the total expenditure was Rs 4403.31 crore against the plan outlay of Rs 4850 crore but in 2008-09, Rs 4773.34 crore were utilized against the approved Rs 4500 crore while in 2009-10, Rs 5280.99 crore were spent against the plan outlay of Rs 5500 crore. As for the next two financial years, he added, In 2010-11 and 2011-12, Rs 5768.05 and Rs 6357.40 crore were utilized respectively against the approvals of Rs 6000 and Rs 6600 crore. But the 2012-13 fiscal witnessed massive decline in expenditure due to slicing of the funds by the Government of India, he observed.
Dr Jitendra Singh further disclosed that against the approved Rs 7300 crore, the expenditure stood at Rs 6008.74 crore (82 percent) during the last financial year. Since the beginning of 2013-14, the Planning Commission of India has, for various reasons, withheld Rs 2064 crore plan funds, he added.
This is a case of wasted golden opportunity for the NC Chief Minister, who enjoyed unstinted support of Congress High Command at the Center to prove his worth, said Dr Jitendra Singh, but unfortunately, the six year term is ending up as a testimony of government’s inertia, inefficiency and ineptitude.
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