Governor's Directives 2012

Governor unhappy with backlog removal speed

By Kartik Lokhande

MUMBAI, March 26: Maharashtra Government’s lip-service to the cause of removal of irrigation backlog has been exposed in the latest directives of the Governor K Sankaranarayanan. Issuing the directives for 2012-13, the Governor has observed that the phnysical achievement ‘has not been commensurate’ as far as liquidation of backlog in physical terms was concerned.

In the latest directives, the Governor has taken a stock of backlog in irrigation sector as well as other sectors, redefining of role of statutory development boards (SDBs) energisation of agricultural pump sets, etc. According to the directives, backlog of Vidarbha in technical education sector is Rs 23.98 crore, followed by polytechnics’ backlog of Rs 15.41 crore, that of technical high schools at Rs 8.57 crore, public health at Rs 122.71 crore, and energisation of pump sets at Rs 128.86 crore. Compared to Marathwada and Rest of Maharashtra regions, the backlog of Vidarbha in sectors other than irrigation is 63.42 per cent of total backlog.

Interestingly, the Governor ‘expressed concern’ that the pace of removal of physical backlog in Amravati Division had ‘progressively slowed down’ in the last four years. Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) had identified 122 priority projects in Amravati Division to ensure time-bound liquidation of balance backlog, but quarterly progress reports submitted by Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) pointed out that physical achievement in these projects was not commensurate with the targets set by Water Resources Department (WRD). Taking serious note of this, in September 2011, the Governor had directed VIDC to revise the list of priority projects after considering ‘field realities’ following which VIDC identified 106 priority projects in the division for backlog removal.

It may be mentioned here that the financial backlog as on April 1, 1994 as assessed by Indicators and Backlog Committee was Rs 7,418 crore. On the basis of prevalent norms, it was revised to Rs 6,618.37 crore in the year 2000. Since 2001, the Governor’s directives have focused on this backlog. The Government had claimed in March 2011 that financial backlog was liquidated. Following this, the Governor had expected that backlog in physical terms as in April 1994 also would be liquidated with enhanced allocation for backlog districts. According to MWRRA report, backlog existed in Ratnagiri, Buldhana, Akola (including Washim), and Amravati districts as in June 2009. During 2009-10, out of a backlog of 2,37,720 hectares, backlog of 14,012 hectares was removed in these districts. Of a remaining 2,59,708 hectares of irrigation backlog, as much as 2,57,518 hectares was in four districts of Amravati Division. In 2010-11, VIDC data showed, backlog of only 9,570 hectares was removed in Amravati Division.

This has irked the Governor and he has observed in clear terms in his latest directives that the Government should first make available an additional allocation of Rs 750 crore for districts in Amravati Division having balance backlog. After earmarking ‘adequate funds’ for liquidation of backlog in these districts, the Government should distribute remaining allocation among Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Rest of Maharashtra ‘giving equal weightage to their respective population and net sown area’.

Anticipating the Government’s moves, the Governor has also directed the Government to money raised through market borrowings (outside the budget) for irrigation sector should be distributed equitably among three statutory development boards. Similarly, additional funds for irrigation sector sought through supplementary demands also should be distributed equitably as per the formula suggested by him.

Objecting to ‘unduly high’ expenditure under non-divisible head, the Governor has directed the Planning Department to re-examine items of expenditure classified as non-divisible in budget documents and suitably modify the classification wherever possible. Further, he has stated in strong words that ‘there shall be no diversion of funds from backlog districts to non-backlog districts and from the area of one development board to another, without prior approval of the Governor.’

The Governor has directed the Divisional Commissioners to review implementation of the directives on quarterly basis and has asked Chief Secretary also to take similar review every quarter.

 Allocation of plan expenditure for 2012-13

(as per the Government’s financial statement)

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Statutory Devpt Board             Outlay

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Vidarbha                                  Rs 9,531.15 cr

Marathwada                            Rs 5,529.54 cr

Rest of Maharashtra             Rs 16,017.17 cr

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Total                                          Rs 31,077.86

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Governor slams Govt over Rs 75,366 cr ‘balance cost’ of irrigation projects

•  Asks Government to set priorities right and not to dilute committed expenditure in irrigation sector

Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has slammed the Government over a huge ‘balance cost’ of irrigation projects. As on April 1, 2011, the balance cost of irrigation projects in Maharashtra was Rs 75,366 crore, show the figures.

As per the figures, 277 projects in Vidarbha region required Rs 29,413 crore as on April 1, 2011. In all, 183 projects in Marathwada region required Rs 13,580 crore and 287 projects in Rest of Maharashtra required Rs 32,373 crore. Overall, 747 ongoing projects in Maharashtra required a huge amount of Rs 75,366 crore for completion.

Recording his strong observations over the matter, the Governor advised the Government to set the priorities right considering limited budgetary resources. “The priority to committed expenditure in irrigation sector should not be diluted by taking up new projects,” he directed the Government and made it clear that the restriction would be applicable to all districts except for irrigation projects in Godavari basin of Vidarbha region.

Explaining the exception granted to projects in Godavari basin, the Governor stated in his directives that the irrigation potential of Godavari basin had not been tapped completely. While allowing the Government to plan for new projects and grant administrative approval to new projects in Godavari basin with necessary budget, he advised against taking up the projects to avoid thinning of resources. “If limited resources are spread thin over a large number of projects, it will result in time and cost over-runs,” he observed.

Pointing out another vital issue of gap between created irrigation potential and utilized potential, the Governor asked the Government to set aside ‘adequate’ amount not exceeding five per cent of allocation for each region for completing ‘last mile’ works (especially distributaries).

Governor asks devpt boards to prepare district devpt reports

The Governor has asked the development boards to prepare district development reports of at least two districts each. The districts with low human development index should be accorded priority. For the purpose, he has asked the Government to set aside Rs 2 crore for the development boards.