By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: Rejecting the claim of Bihar Government for good financial management, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui said that data show that the state government has totally failed to utilize central budgetary amount for the current financial year.
“Last year the state returned Rs 4000 crore unused as out of total Rs 22000 crore, only Rs 18000 crore were spent. But the meager amount that has been used during 2011-12 fiscal year is starling for the people of the state and the government stands exposed in the light of its own data and figure. For the financial year 2011-12, Rs 27,365 crore plan size was approved but till November 2011 only Rs 9865 crore was spent. How will it utilize the rest amount of Rs 17504 crore by March 2012 when the fiscal year will end?” asked Mr. Siddiqui.
He said it is impossible to utilize the amount properly. “In 9 months only 30% amount was spent while the 70% amount is lying unspent and the government has to utilize it within 3 months which is impossible. The only way to cover up its blunder the government will adopt is to indulge in March loot or park the money in some corporations, including bridge construction corporations and Rural Development Corporation” he added.
He further said that according to the data the government got Rs 1300 crore under National Rural Health Mission out of which only Rs 780 crore was spent. Similarly, only 52% of amount was spent under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Siddiqui alleged the Nitish government for indulging in figure fudging: “Surprisingly, till September 2011, the transport department had recorded zero percent expenditure but within two months–in November–it has shown to spend 63% of the plan size. Similarly, the building department spent only 4% amount till September 2011 but in November, 2011 it claimed to utilize 33% of the amount. The case with the health department is not unlike. In Sep. 2011 it spent 10% but it came up with the expenditure of 32% in Nov. 2011.What is this except figure fudging to mislead people?” he questioned.
He said that the most starling case recorded was of commercial and industries department which failed to spend anything till November 2011.
“These figures exposed the claim of the state government to industrialize the state and taking it to the line of progress. How a government can talk about the development of the state which is not serious to spend the sanctioned amount? He questioned.