SRINAGAR, Oct 4:
A ruling National Conference (NC) member today alleged discrimination in fund allocation to frontier district of Kupwara.
Not satisfied with a written reply from Minister of State for Planning Manohar Lal Sharma, NC member Mir Saifullah said the Government has failed to release any funds for development works in the Kupwara district.
He contested the claim of the Government of equitable distribution of funds in the State, and said not a rupee has been released to the district when Government has claimed to have released 70 per cent of the plan money.
Mr Mir was joined by other members, mostly from the opposition members who alleged similar discrimination with their areas.
However, Dr Sharma said the State Government is committed to ensuring equitable and balanced development of all the three regions of the State with special focus on those areas which are lagging behind in the development process.
The Government has constituted State Finance Commission for the purpose to ensure equitable distribution of available resources, he said.
The Minister said the funds available under district and State plan for various schemes of Central Government including Border Areas Development (BADP) and Backward Regions Grant Funds (BRGF) are being provided to fill the infrastructural gaps in the backward districts, adding, the Government has also earmarked special funds for the development of Bad Pockets in 2011-12 and 2012-13 plans to address the needs of most backward areas of the State.
Dr Sharma said 14 departments have been identified for flow of funds through Panchayats and after the formation of Block Development Councils, the District Development Boards (DDBs) shall be replaced as District Planning & Development Boards under the Panchayat Raj Act-1989.
Giving details of allocation and utilisation of funds under District Sector in Kupwara, the Minister said out of total allocated amount of Rs 106.12 crore, an amount of Rs 11.73 crore has been utilised by the end of August 2012.
He said there are many other areas in the State which are facing infrastructural inadequacy, adding that efforts are underway to address the critical gaps in Kupwara district to bring about an overall improvement in the development indices.(UNI)
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