Sunday, February 20, 2011

Special aid: Kalahandi utilises Rs 200 crore

Expressbuzz, Feb 20, 2011
BHUBANESWAR: The government has provided Rs 280 crore special assistance to Kalahandi districts during 2004 and 2010 out of which nearly ` 200 crore has been utilised. Replying to a resolution moved by Gobardhan Dash of Congress, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said Kalahandi district received special central assistance of Rs 104.33 crore under the revised long term action plan during this period. The district has so far utilised Rs 101.44 crore on several projects for drought proofing, poverty alleviation, infrastructure development and sustainable livelihood. Kalahandi is one of the 19 districts that is covered under the back ward region grant fund (BRGF). The district received a grant of Rs 39.60 crore till last year and the utilisation so far is Rs 32.59 crore. The Congress MLA, however, alleged that the district lost the special grant for two years from 2008 to 2010 due non-submission of utilisation certificate in time. The Centre is providing Rs 15 crore BRGF grant to most backward districts to meet the critical gaps in infrastructure and other development requirements which are not adequately funded through state’s plan outlay. The district has not been able to utilise funds provided under Biju KBK Yojan, a state scheme launched in 2006-07. Although the Government has provided Rs 81 crore to the district, only Rs 29,34 crore has been utilised. Utilisation of funds sanctioned to Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) is also not satisfactory. The district has utilised Rs 36.39 crore out of Rs 54.70 crore during 2004-05 and 2010-11. Moving the resolution, Dash alleged that no perceptible change in the socio-economic conditions of the people has taken place despite the special central and state assistance. People are still migrating from the district to other places in search of work, he said.

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