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Despite witnessing near a normal and peaceful financial year, the Omar Abdullah-led coalition is racing against time to fully utilise the Rs6,600-crore annual Plan budget for 2011-12.
According to rough estimates of the State finance department, a whopping Rs3,940 crore remained unspent during the first three quarters of the current financial year.
In view of harsh weather conditions and a long spell of snowfall, the working season across Kashmir and in hilly districts of Jammu was hit hard during January, leaving just two months for the State to spend the huge budget.
Official sources said the State Government is now left with no option but to spend more than Rs55 crore each day in the last quarter ahead of pleading their case for 10 per cent annual step-up over the previous year’s Plan budget.
During the first round of meeting with the officials of the Planning Commission in New Delhi, the State Government has already projected a demand of Rs7,300 crore worth annual Plan for 2012-13 apart from seeking extension of Rs1,200 crore special grant under the Prime Minister’s reconstruction programme.
Meanwhile, senior officials of the State Government entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the pace of developmental works have been left red-faced ever since the review meeting of the planning department has summed up these figures.
Apparently, lengthy review meetings chaired by Omar Abdullah at regular intervals during the financial year had little or no impact on ground zero and the poor expenditure statements of various departments reflect the same.
The large army of over 4.5 lakh State Government employees has also not contributed their 100 per cent. Little over 40 per cent expenditure in first three quarters is just a reflection of poor ‘work culture’.
Following the high-level review meeting, the worried State Government is learnt to have directed the various heads of the departments to fast track the developmental activities in the last quarter with a specific rider not to compromise with the quality of works.
The biggest worry on the mind of the State Government is poor rate of growth recorded by several key departments dealing with public at large.
The State Power Development department, Industries department, Health and Education department have also faired poorly.
Official sources said, at least 20 State Government departments have failed to spend 50 per cent of their allotted funds in the first three quarters while few even spent less than 30 per cent and 40 per cent during the same period. The Opposition parties Peoples’ Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers party have been spearheading a campaign against the non-performance of the State Government during one of the most peaceful financial year.
According to rough estimates of the State finance department, a whopping Rs3,940 crore remained unspent during the first three quarters of the current financial year.
In view of harsh weather conditions and a long spell of snowfall, the working season across Kashmir and in hilly districts of Jammu was hit hard during January, leaving just two months for the State to spend the huge budget.
Official sources said the State Government is now left with no option but to spend more than Rs55 crore each day in the last quarter ahead of pleading their case for 10 per cent annual step-up over the previous year’s Plan budget.
During the first round of meeting with the officials of the Planning Commission in New Delhi, the State Government has already projected a demand of Rs7,300 crore worth annual Plan for 2012-13 apart from seeking extension of Rs1,200 crore special grant under the Prime Minister’s reconstruction programme.
Meanwhile, senior officials of the State Government entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the pace of developmental works have been left red-faced ever since the review meeting of the planning department has summed up these figures.
Apparently, lengthy review meetings chaired by Omar Abdullah at regular intervals during the financial year had little or no impact on ground zero and the poor expenditure statements of various departments reflect the same.
The large army of over 4.5 lakh State Government employees has also not contributed their 100 per cent. Little over 40 per cent expenditure in first three quarters is just a reflection of poor ‘work culture’.
Following the high-level review meeting, the worried State Government is learnt to have directed the various heads of the departments to fast track the developmental activities in the last quarter with a specific rider not to compromise with the quality of works.
The biggest worry on the mind of the State Government is poor rate of growth recorded by several key departments dealing with public at large.
The State Power Development department, Industries department, Health and Education department have also faired poorly.
Official sources said, at least 20 State Government departments have failed to spend 50 per cent of their allotted funds in the first three quarters while few even spent less than 30 per cent and 40 per cent during the same period. The Opposition parties Peoples’ Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers party have been spearheading a campaign against the non-performance of the State Government during one of the most peaceful financial year.
