Police Modernization Poor utilization of funds costs J&K again, MHA slices Rs 3.3 Cr
AVINAV VERMA. Updated: 7/15/2019 3:50:38 PM
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JAMMU: Owing to poor performance in utilization of funds, the union government has sliced the funds allocated to Jammu and Kashmir under crucial Police modernization programme as compared to previous fiscal year.
The Government of India (GOI) has allocated Rs 39.9 crore for the year 2019-20, which is Rs 3.29 crore less as compared to the previous fiscal year.
In 2018-19, Union government had released Rs 43.19 crore for the strife-torn state.
“A whopping Rs 12.66 crore has remained unspent out of total funds of Rs 43.19 crore released by the Union government for 2018-19,” informed sources told The News Now.
They added “The unspent amount will be pooled and released to better performing states, which have no pending utilization certificates.
“In last four financial years, around Rs 17 crore released for Jammu and Kashmir was pooled due to non submissions of utilization certificates,” he said.
They added that poor expenditure could result in another cut in the coming year.
The fund is released every year to states under the scheme which is earmarked for procurement of vehicles, communication equipment, surveillance equipment, sophisticated weaponry, creating training, construction of police stations, outposts and barracks.
The scheme is focused on facilitating targeted interventions and ‘mobility’ and ‘construction of police infrastructure including housing’ is now permitted in case of Jammu & Kashmir.
As per the official data available with The News Now, in the financial year 2015-16, union government released Rs 37 crore under the programme but the government has utilized only Rs 35.88 crore.
Similarly, in 2016-17, the state government utilized Rs 34.5 crore out of total allocation Rs 37 crore.
However, the government had performed better in 2017-18, it utilized Rs 48 crore out of allocated Rs 48.73 crore.
The Jammu & Kashmir is among three Himalayan States, namely, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and 8 North Eastern States including Sikkim which are eligible to receive financial assistance on 90:10 Centre: State sharing basis.
The remaining States are eligible for financial assistance on 60:40 share.