Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Jan 7: In a major relief to the State Government, the Planning Commission is likely to release the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) funds, which had been stalled for the several months leading to inordinate delay in nearly 6600 projects across the State.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the assurance was given by the incumbents of Planning Commission of India (PCI) in a high level meeting, which was attended by the top brass of Finance and Planning Department of the State.
“The meeting, which was held at Yojna Bhavan lasted for nearly two hours and was attended by Planning Commission Secretary and the State was represented by Principal Secretary Finance, B B Vyas and Principal Secretary Planning and Development B R Sharma,” sources said adding, “the meeting was held in conducive atmosphere and the main issue in the meeting was the blockage of funds to the tune of Rs 2064 crores pertaining to the Special Plan Assistance”.
Sources elaborated, “the PCI officials gave sufficient assurances to release the funds soon after the State provided the detailed information pertaining to SPA projects in the desired format. There were also some issues pertaining to the software being used by the State to provide the financial information and they were also sorted out”.
Confirming holding of high-level meeting Principal Secretary Planning, B R Sharma told EXCELSIOR from New Delhi, “the Planning Commission officials wanted clarification on certain issues and the same were provided to them in details. The purpose of the meeting to provide them with all the relevant information pertaining to status of various on-going projects in the State”.
Over the blockage of funds under the SPA category, which had resulted in stalling of several developmental projects, he remarked, “we have discussed all issues pertaining to release of SPA fund and are confident that funds will start pouring in by this month end”.
Sources said, “based on inputs received from today’s meeting, the Planning and Finance officials would submit at the earliest the financial data, in the format desired by the PC to pave way for early release of funds”, adding, “the meeting was quite fruitful and has helped remove the discrepancies pertaining to all queries raised by the Planning Commission of India”.
It is pertinent to mention here that as many as 6600 small, medium and big projects in the State had been stalled due to delay in sanction of Rs 2064 crores worth Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to the State by the Planning Commission of India. This was for the first time that even after the lapse of nine months of the financial year, the State hasn’t been provided any amount under the SPA.
Sources stated that concerned over the gravity of situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also personally taken up the matter with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission of India, Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Earlier, the Planning Commission of India had asked the State Government to prepare a detailed list of the projects it would execute under the SPA during current financial year of 2013-14 before the release of SPA. The State Government completed the exercise a long back and submitted it to the Planning Commission of India.
With last years’ experience in mind when the Planning Commission had imposed a cut of Rs 1500 crores in annual plan of the State, sources said top officials of the State Government had also sent repeated reminders to the Planning Commission officials seeking early release of the SPA especially when just three months have been left for the completion of the financial year.
The State had been granted Rs 7300 crores worth annual plan for 2013-14, which was equal to the amount approved during 2012-13. However, during 2012-13, the State had ended up with getting only Rs 5800 crores as the Planning Commission had imposed a cut of nearly Rs 1500 crores under various components.
It may be mentioned here that during current financial year, the Planning Commission wanted to give only Rs 5800 crores worth plan to Jammu and Kashmir, which was strongly resented by the State Government. After various hiccups and delay in finalisation of plan, the State was given Rs 7300 crores worth plan, still Rs 700 crores less than what it had asked for.
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