Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 10: In a significant achievement on planning front, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has secured Rs 1884 crore under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) component from the Planning Commission of India and was expecting release of pending amount of just Rs 100 crore in the next few days well before the close of current financial year on March 31, 2013.
The Government was confident of 95-96 per cent expenditure of Rs 7300 crore worth annual plan by the end of financial year 2012-13 to secure another healthy plan of Rs 8000 crore for next year. It, however, admitted that it wouldn’t be able to spend Rs 700 crore worth amount under Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP) in the current fiscal but added that the funds granted to the State by the Central Government under the PMRP were non-lapsable.
Principal Secretary, Planning Department, BR Sharma told the Excelsior that the State has received Rs 1884 crore under SPA component of the Plan from the Planning Commission of India.
“Only Rs 100 crore were pending and that amount was too expected to be released within the next few days”, he said.
The State had been granted a total amount of Rs 1984 crore under SPA component of annual plan in total plan amount of Rs 7300 crore during current financial year of 2012-13. However, the Planning Commission hadn’t released the amount under the SPA till December last year necessitating intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah followed by the meetings of senior officials of Planning and Finance Departments with the Commission.
The Commission had released about Rs 850 crore in the month of February after some of the formalities suggested by it were completed by the State Government. However, over Rs 1100 crore remained pending with the Planning Commission. Sources said the PCI has released another Rs 1000 crore taking total amount given to the State under SPA component to Rs 1884 crore, keeping only Rs 100 crore pending.
Sources said the plan expenditure of the State for the current financial year was well on target and the Government was confident of utilising about 95 to 96 per cent funds by the end of March 31, 2013 when the current financial year would close.
“The plan expenditure is well on target. The Planning Ministry and Department officials have reviewed the plan expenditure with all District Development Commissioners (DDCs) of 22 districts of the State and positive reports have poured in from all the districts,” sources said.
They pointed out that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had devised schedule of holding District Development Board (DDB) review meetings of all 22 districts in the month of February. However, the disturbed conditions in the Kashmir valley in the aftermath of Mohammad Afzal Guru’s hanging followed by commencement of budget session of the Legislature didn’t permit the Chief Minister to hold review of the DDB meeting.
Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Principal Secretary, Planning, B R Sharma held review of the meetings with the DDCs only in combined and separate meetings as it was not possible during the budget session to hold full fledged review meetings, sources said.
They added that out of Rs 700 crore sanctioned by the Union Government for the State under PMRP projects, the utilisation was expected to be less. However, they pointed out that the funds under the PMRP were non-lapsable and would be extended to next financial year.
For 2013-14, the State Government has projected annual plan worth Rs 8000 crore i.e. a step-up of 10 per cent over the current financial year and Rs 600 crore under the PMRP. The figures had also been reflected in the general budget.
So far, only one plan meeting of the top brass of the State Government officials has been held with the Planning Commission of India through video conferencing. The next meeting was likely to be held after budget session of the Legislature.
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