Non release of funds cripples PMGSY works
|
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 24: Several PMGSY works have been crippled in the State due to the State Government’s failure to release necessary funds.
Moreover, with the State’s Finance Department not releasing funds for different projects implemented in the State under the PMGSY, it is feared that the Centre may not release any more funds.
Sources informed that the Ministry of Rural Development released Rs 161.2875 crore to the State of Manipur on March 27, 2024 as PMGSY Central share for the financial year 2023-24.
The State’s matching share for the Rs 161.2875 crore released by the Centre is 17.92 crore.
As per rules, the State’s Finance Department must transfer the Central share of Rs 161.2875 crore to the State Nodal Account (SNA) of PMGSY within 30 days of its release along with the corresponding State share of Rs 17.92 crore, said the sources.
Both the Central and the State share must be utilised in time. If these amounts are not utilised in time, the Ministry of Rural Development may not release subsequent funds.
As the Finance Department did not transfer the Central share as well as the State share to the SNA even after 30 days of the release of the Central share, the RD&PR Department repeatedly approached the Finance Department to transfer the funds.
But the funds have not been transferred till date although it has been seven months since the Central share was released.
After it came to know about the State’s Finance Department not transferring the Central share of Rs 161.2875 crore and the State share of Rs 17.92 crore, Union Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan personally wrote to Chief Minister N Biren on October 9, 2024 and asked the Chief Minister to review the performance of PMGSY and ensure uninterrupted flow of programme funds.
“The pendency in releasing funds has been adversely affecting execution of PMGSY works in the State. Also the available construction season is not being utilised. There is a likelihood that given the delay and slow progress, it may not be possible to retain the allocation under PMGSY for the State this year”, Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote to N Biren.
Notably, PMGSY was launched on December 25, 2000 to improve rural road connectivity and provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations.
Initially, the scheme was sponsored 100 per cent by the Central Government but the funding pattern was changed to 60:40 between Centre and States in 2015-16.
Nonetheless, PMGSY funding pattern for the North Eastern State and Himalayan States is 90:10, the sources added.
IMPHAL, Nov 24: Several PMGSY works have been crippled in the State due to the State Government’s failure to release necessary funds.
Moreover, with the State’s Finance Department not releasing funds for different projects implemented in the State under the PMGSY, it is feared that the Centre may not release any more funds.
Sources informed that the Ministry of Rural Development released Rs 161.2875 crore to the State of Manipur on March 27, 2024 as PMGSY Central share for the financial year 2023-24.
The State’s matching share for the Rs 161.2875 crore released by the Centre is 17.92 crore.
As per rules, the State’s Finance Department must transfer the Central share of Rs 161.2875 crore to the State Nodal Account (SNA) of PMGSY within 30 days of its release along with the corresponding State share of Rs 17.92 crore, said the sources.
Both the Central and the State share must be utilised in time. If these amounts are not utilised in time, the Ministry of Rural Development may not release subsequent funds.
As the Finance Department did not transfer the Central share as well as the State share to the SNA even after 30 days of the release of the Central share, the RD&PR Department repeatedly approached the Finance Department to transfer the funds.
But the funds have not been transferred till date although it has been seven months since the Central share was released.
After it came to know about the State’s Finance Department not transferring the Central share of Rs 161.2875 crore and the State share of Rs 17.92 crore, Union Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan personally wrote to Chief Minister N Biren on October 9, 2024 and asked the Chief Minister to review the performance of PMGSY and ensure uninterrupted flow of programme funds.
“The pendency in releasing funds has been adversely affecting execution of PMGSY works in the State. Also the available construction season is not being utilised. There is a likelihood that given the delay and slow progress, it may not be possible to retain the allocation under PMGSY for the State this year”, Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote to N Biren.
Notably, PMGSY was launched on December 25, 2000 to improve rural road connectivity and provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations.
Initially, the scheme was sponsored 100 per cent by the Central Government but the funding pattern was changed to 60:40 between Centre and States in 2015-16.
Nonetheless, PMGSY funding pattern for the North Eastern State and Himalayan States is 90:10, the sources added.