Primarily based on CAG report for regular and social sector for the yr ended March 2018, which was laid inside the State Assembly on Tuesday, irrigation as a priority sector was not equipped with sufficient funds between 2015 and 2018.
The Comptroller and Auditor Primary of India has come all through utilization of fund allotted to Western Odisha Progress Council (WODC) in non-priority areas and neglect of the priority sectors.
The WODC was prepare with the goal of eradicating regional imbalances by enterprise accelerated progress programmes in western Odisha – the realm infamous for incidences of poverty and distress migration. The jurisdiction of WODC spreads over 89 blocks of 10 districts.
Primarily based on CAG report for regular and social sector for the yr ended March 2018, which was laid inside the State Assembly on Tuesday, irrigation as a priority sector was not equipped with sufficient funds between 2015 and 2018.
“Reverse to the selection of WODC in August 2013 to current highest priority to irrigation sector, it had not been given priority. Totally different duties which weren’t important to the occasion of the realm, acquired highest priority and funds to the tune of ₹159.41 crore (39 %) had been allotted,” the apex audit firm says in its report.
“Constructing of 77 group centres in Rourkela Municipal Firm (RMC) had been approved at ₹3.03 crore all through 2015-18 though the city was being developed as a ‘Good Metropolis’ and did not need allocation from WODC,” it components out.
Further, ₹32 lakh was allotted (2014-15) for arrange of seven statues in RMC area, which weren’t important actions and violated the instructions of the federal authorities, issued in November 2013.
“The amount might need been utilised inside the important duties, which could not be achieved attributable to paucity of funds,” the CAG says.
When auditors sought response of the State authorities on misplaced priority, The Planning and Coordination Division stated that these duties had been sanctioned in view of public demand. The precise reality, however, was that the sectoral allocation norm approved by WODC was not adopted in allocation of funds, the CAG components out.
Out of 89 blocks coming beneath WODC, 34 blocks (38%) had been very backward and 25 blocks (28%) had been backward. In June 2013, the State authorities had instructed to current additional priority to very backward and backward blocks.
“Out of complete outlay of ₹409.72 crore, all through the years 2015-18, ₹183.41 crore (45%) had been allotted for creating and developed blocks, whereas solely ₹128.79 crore (31%) had been allotted for very backward and ₹97.52 crore (24%) for backward blocks,” finds the apex audit firm.
