Maoist-hit districts asked to use funds

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has asked the districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWEs) to expedite the implementation of projects under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and utilise funds. In a letter to the district collectors of Deogarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Keonjhar, the State Government has asked them to make all-out efforts and expedite the expenditure under IAP to make it more than 50 per cent of the total amount already released for the districts. The collectors have been asked to file present status report of the expenditure under the scheme and steps taken by them to expedite implementation of the projects. Poor expenditure under the IAP had come under the Planning Commission’s scrutiny in video conferencing with the collectors of the Maoist-affected districts on September 8 and September 30, 2011. The Centre had not released the second tranche of the first instalment for 2011-12 for the districts as the expenditure level did not reach 50 per cent by October-end, 2011 against the total release of ` 35 crore. “Your district might lose valuable resources which are received as 100 per cent grant,” the letter said. Poor expenditure of funds under the IAP was discussed between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram when the latter was on a visit here on November 9 to review the preparedness of the Government to tackle the Maoist menace. IAP is being implemented in 15 districts of Balangir, Deogarh, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Sundargarh with a view to bring about quick and perceptible improvement in public infrastructure and services giving immediate benefit to the people. The State Government has asked the district collectors to submit proposals for drinking water projects approved by the district-level committee (DLC) to the State-level sanctioning committee (SLSC). The issue was discussed with the district collectors during the video conferencing last week.