PMDP Govt revalidates 50% of Rs 28 Crore unspent allocation

JUNAID SIDIQ

SRINAGAR: The fall out of the BJP-PDP alliance on June this year has resulted in the collapse of Rs 28.27 crore that were allocated to the state for the permanent restoration of 2014- flood affected infrastructure, half of which has been now revalidated.
In continuation of the release of funds after the devastating flood in 2014 under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP), the central government had allocated Rs 111.11 crore for various developmental works to be undertaken during 2017. However, the J&K government has managed to spend only Rs 82.84 crore.
According to the official figures, the school education department hasn’t spent Rs 14.42 crore out of the Rs 50 crore released to it under the PMDP.
In social welfare department Kashmir has spent only Rs 1.64 crore out of it share of Rs 3.74 crore. The department has failed to utilise Rs 2.10 crore.
In horticulture department out of Rs 4.00 crore, the department was unable to spent Rs 2.03 crore. In agriculture department, of the Rs 6.00 crore for development works Rs 2.81 crore has remain unutilised.
Similarly, in animal/sheep department, out of Rs 5.15 crore allocations, Rs 1.19 crore has collapsed.
The data also revealed that Rs 3.95 crore was left unspent by the forest department out of total allocation of Rs 10.00 crore.
In the devastating September 2014 floods of Jammu and Kashmir that affected 1.4 million people and killed 300, the overall estimated loss by the government was Rs one trillion.
On November 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi under PM's Development Package had announced Rs 80,000-crore for Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to Kashmir.
A government official on anonymity said that the lackadaisical approach followed by the end of the BJP-PDP alliance were the two main reasons that the entire allotted funds could not be utilised.
The planning department has now issued an order sanctioning 50 percent of revalidation of total Rs 28.27 unspent funds.
“It is hereby accorded to the revalidation of unspent funds amounting to Rs 14.13 crore out of the unspent funds available under PM development package for permanent restoration of flood affected infrastructure,” order reads.
“The balance 50 percent funds shall only be revalidated once the department submits the utilization certificate funds of the released/re-validated amount so far,” order said.
It also adds a rider that no further liability should be created and works “shall physically and financially be completed within the approved cost”.
The order says that all the pending works shall be completed by 31 March 2019.