Funds unutilised, projects hang fire

BHAWANIPATNA: The State Government had launched the Biju KBK Yojana in 2006-07 after the Centre allegedly slashed funds under the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) for most backward KBK region, comprising eight districts. The scheme is aimed at providing financial assistance to the construction of office buildings of SHGs and anganwadi centres,  construction of girls hostels, bridge and culverts. However, with non-utilisation of funds sanctioned under the scheme, lack of proper monitoring and non-submission of utilisation certificates in time by the implementing agencies, development works are being delayed.From 2006-07 to 2010-11, ` 81 crore has been allotted to the district. But with estimates of most of the projects not prepared by the implementing agencies, only ` 62.45 crore have been released to the agencies of which, only ` 53.38 crore was spent till date. Worse, utilisation certificates of only ` 33 crore have been submitted by the agencies as a result of which, the remaining funds have not been released yet. Due to these reasons, most of the works are either pending or yet to be grounded. During these five years, 1,111 works should have been undertaken under the Biju KBK scheme of which, only 137 works taken up and these too are lying incomplete. Sources said under the scheme, an amount of ` 1.50 crore each has been earmarked to all the blocks of the district. Out of that ` 50 lakh for each block is to be incurred by the district administration. The project proposals will be approved by the district administration. The remaining ` 1 crore will be spent by the government and projects will be approved as per the recommendation of the MPs and MLAs. It is alleged that in most cases works are being delayed due to political interference. There are also cases where implementing agencies are refusing to take up works on the pretext of lack of adequate manpower.For instance, RWSS refused to take up rural piped water supply projects in Golamunda, Koksara, Karlamunda and Thuamul-Rampur blocks for which ` 66 lakh was sanctioned, citing lack of hands. This apart, non-finalisation of tenders in time in many cases is resulting in the delay. Bridge construction over the river Rahul in M Rampur block has been stalled since 2007-08. While it was originally estimated to cost ` 3 crore, the expenditure at present is being worked out to ` 7 crore.Efforts to contact officials concerned proved futile.