Bhubaneswar: Even as the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) continues its Central negligence stand, the State government during the last nine years, has failed to spend more than Rs 46,000 crore which includes Central assistance and Central share of State’s different schemes, the opposition BJP and Congress alleged on Sunday.
Blaming the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, State BJP spokesperson Suresh Pujari said, “The State government has failed to spend around Rs 46,000 crore in the last nine years as the Central government had granted funds for various schemes.”
The same allegation was also made by Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who said, “Naveen babu always cries Central negligence but the Union government allocates funds for various schemes whenever required. It is the failure of the State government as it has no specific policy and plans to spend the Central assistance.”
In reply, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said, “The Centre has not sanctioned funds at the time of State’s requirement”.
The State government will spend the unspent amount after reviewing some schemes, he added.
The allocation in the budget for Centrally sponsored schemes from 2006-07 to 2014-15 was Rs 13,649.84 crore of which Rs 3122.32 crore has remained unspent.
Besides, out of a total of Rs 8,065.64 crore of the state share earmarked for the Central schemes, only Rs 4,488.46 crore has been spent during the period. Sources maintained that Rs 3,577.28 crore allocated for implementation of Central schemes has not been utilized.
The record of utilisation of funds earmarked in the State Budget for plan expenditure during the last nine years was more sluggish. The State Government had allotted Rs 146,887.88 crore during the period of which Rs 39,408.63 crore has remained unspent.
As per the data provided by Planning and Coordination minister Usha Devi, the State government was unable to spend Rs 46,108.24 crore earmarked for various State, Central and Centrally sponsored schemes from 2006-07 to 2014-15.
If the total amount during the last nine years is taken into account, the State government has failed to spend Rs 5,123.14 crore in an average every year. This was informed by BJD member Usha Devi while replying to a question of BJP member Dilip Ray during the winter session of the Assembly which concluded on December 16.