Governor asks Chief Secretary to examine reasons for unspent irrigation funds



27-03-12

Governor asks Chief Secretary to ‘examine’ reasons for unspent irrigation funds

  • Chief Secretary also asked to submit an action taken report within three months

By Kartik Lokhande
MUMBAI, March 27: Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has taken a serious cognizance of the fact that hundreds of crores of rupees are lying unspent with various irrigation development corporations (IDCs), and has directed Chief Secretary to ‘examine’ reasons.
In the latest directives for financial year 2012-13, the Governor has expressed concern over large unspent balances with the IDCs. According to information furnished by Water Resources Department, an amount of Rs 2,438 crore was lying unspent at the end of 2009-10. Similarly, at the end of 2010-11, unspent balances mounted to Rs 3,496 crore, that is, a rise of Rs 1,058 crore! Interestingly, these official figures indicate shocking apathy towards irrigation development in state, even when the farmers are crying for irrigation facilities to improve farm production and productivity. More shocking is the fact that unspent balances were to the tune of 35 per cent and 45 per cent for 2009-10 and 2010-11, compared to total plan size for irrigation sector for respective years.
The Governor has found that there is ‘discrepancy’ in figures of unspent balances of Rest of Maharashtra (RoM) Board for 2009-10. On May 13, 2009, Water Resources Department had communicated to the Governor’s office that the unspent balances with RoM Board were to the tune of Rs 467 crore. However, WRD later revised the amount to Rs 1,007 crore in a communicated dated March 15, 2012. This, too, has irked the Governor. Taking serious note of both the findings, the Governor has asked the Chief Secretary to ‘examine’ the reasons given for such huge amounts lying unspent. Chief Secretary has been asked also to examine the reasons for discrepancy in figures reported by WRD regarding unspent balances with RoM Board. Asking the Chief Secretary to ensure that departments concerned took corrective steps, the Governor has asked the former to submit an action taken report in this regard within three months.
Meanwhile, in another development, the Planning Department has informed the Governor’s office that as per his directives issued on March 20, 2011, a mechanism was put in place to get details of region-wise outlays and expenditure for all sectors including irrigation. The new mechanism would be activated from April 1, 2012, and the figures would be published on a quarterly basis so as to keep everyone update about implementation of the compliance of the Governor’s directives. Appreciating this, the Governor has now asked the Planning Department to include non-plan expenditure also while working out the above figures.

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