Indian Express 29.06.2010
Most MC divisions fail to spend 50% of allocated funds: Audit report
Khushboo Sandhu Tags : corporation Posted: Tue Jun 29 2010, 05:05 hrs
Chandigarh: The expenditure of some divisions of the Municipal Corporation is quite less than the budgetary allocation. In fact, there are divisions where even 50 per cent of the funds have also not been spent. This was highlighted in the audit report of the Municipal Corporation for 2008-09.During 2008-09, the Road Division was among the worst performers. While the Road Division 1 had spent 54 per cent of funds, the Road Division 2 managed to spend only 47.9 per cent. Around Rs 61.24 crore was allocated to Road Division 1 of which Rs 33.15 crore was spent. While Rs 46.11 crore was allocated to Road Division 2, of which Rs 22.10 was spent.
Public Health Division 1 could spend around 62 per cent of the budgetary allocation. The expenditure of all four divisions of public health was around 79 per cent of the budget allocated.
The situation was a little better in 2007-08 when the Road Division 1 and 2 had managed to spend 71.27 and 75.24 per cent of their funds, respectively. The Electrical Division had spent 63 per cent while the Public Health Division 4 had spent 62 per cent of their budgetary allocation. The horticulture division had been the most efficient with 98 per cent of the budget being spent.
Councillor Kamlesh said though it was not possible to spend all the budget, there needs to be more efficiency. “Councillors approve development work for different areas. It is up to the officials to execute it. When tenders are not allotted even after the approval of work, the amount allocated for these is not utilized. There is a need to plug the gaps in the expenditure and allocation,” she says.
The issue has been raised a number of times in the House meetings of the civic body. The officials have often stated that the projects approved are far more than can be executed in a year. There are some projects that were proposed many years ago, however the execution is pending. Budgetary allocations for these are made every year.
The issue had also been raised when the budget for the current fiscal year was presented. The figures stated that while Rs 65 crore had been spent by the civic body from April to December 2009, the estimates for January to March 2010 were projected at Rs 74 crore. Councillors had raised objections to this, asking officials to justify how more money can be spent in three months than had been spent in eight months. Mayor Anu Chatrath says that during the current financial year, for two months no new tenders could be invited as e-tendering was to be initiated. She added that with the system in place they are certain to complete most of the proposed works.
