While the State Government is increasing the Budget allocations and pouring in more funds through supplementary allotments, spending by various development and infrastructure sectors is not matching the expectations.
According to the latest figures, while there is over 19 per cent increase in Budget and Supplementary allocations, the spending was just over 4 per cent, which is a huge mismatch, feel officials.
While State Government is putting thrust on improvement of connectivity in the rural areas, rural development sector spending has nosedived resulting in slowing down of road connectivity projects in rural areas.
The Department of Finance has prepared the latest expenditure statement, which reveals that spending in the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) has gone down over 30 per cent in comparison to the corresponding period of last year.
While by November 30, 2017 spending in DoRD was Rs 3,635 crore, it has gone down to Rs 2,475 crore as on November 30, 2018. In fact, Odisha in rural development sector had performed exceedingly well during 2017-18 and now it has slowed down in 2018-19, though funding is not a problem, but execution of projects by the field staff has been lagging.
Budget allocations and Supplementary allotment put together, the DoRD got Rs 6,575 crore to spend in 2018-19.
On Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana(PMGSY), a target for creating 8,000km road was fixed for 2018-19.
The latest report shows that only 2,101 km length of PMGSY road has been completed, so this year achievement of target will not be possible as hardly three months are left for taking up work.
Similarly in the Department of Works (DoW), spending has gone down by over 19 per cent. Spending by November 30, 2017 was Rs1, 776 crore, which has gone down to Rs1,423 crore.
So spending in both Departments of Rural Development and Works has slowed down and it is likely hamper road connectivity in the State.
The overall spending as on November 30, 2018 was less than last year’s corresponding period, officials say.
According to sources, spending as on November 30, 2017 was over 47 per cent, which was over 45 per cent on ending November 30, 2018. While allocation was Rs 60, 179 crore during 2017-18, it went up to Rs 71, 836 crore during 2018-19.
Interestingly, departments like Sports and Youth Services and Industries has clocked more allocations and spending in comparison to last year.
Both the departments have organised flagship programmes like Make in Odisha, 2018 and Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, 2018.
While increase in the Budget of Industries Department shot up to over 307 per cent, allocations of Sports and Youth Services has gone up to over 440 per cent.