Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Saying that the current law and order situation in the valley has taken toll on the developmental activities taken in hand by Rural Development Department, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq today said that a huge amount of funds could not be utilized under various schemes and flagship programmes.
The Minister said this while chairing a meeting of officers convened to review the pace of developmental activities being carried out by the department under various schemes.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, RDD Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Director Rural Development Kashmir, Gazanfar Hussain, Director Rural Sanitation A R Gasi, Mission Director NRLM G N Qasba, Director IWMP, Superintending Engineers REW Jammu and Kashmir, besides other senior officials of the department.
The Minister said, under SRLM, the department had decided to open 11 blocks in the valley under UMEED scheme but got delayed due to present situation in the Valley.
Abdul Haq said, under the 14th Finance Commission, the Department has received allotment of Rs 188 crore, out of which Rs 90 crore stand released which could not be utilized owing to the prevailing situation in the Valley. He said department was expecting allotment of additional grant of Rs 180 crore if already allotted funds could have been utilized timely.
The meeting was informed that the department has the target to generate more than 30 lakh man-days under MGNREGA this year. However, owing to current situation, only 20.41 lakh man-days have been generated till ending July. The department has utilized Rs 420.55 crore till ending July this year under MGNREGA.
The meeting was informed that, under Swach Bharat Mission, the department has constructed 47000 Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) till date against the set target for constructing 3 lakh Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) in the current financial year.
Abdul Haq said the department was expecting to double the target of employment generation under MGNREGA from last year but due to the prevailing situation, it could not meet even the last year’s target during the corresponding period.
The Minister directed the concerned to be present on ground with the people so that the developmental works taken up by the department could be completed and the target is achieved. He further asked the concerned to aware the people about various developmental schemes launched for their development and welfare.
The Minister stressed on the need for achieving the set targets, saying that the Centre would release further funds if the proposed targets are achieved timely. He also directed the concerned for expediting the pace of works on the on-going projects ensuring their timely completion. ”Governance must be a continuous process regardless of the situation,” he added.
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