Requesting prompt release of dues to Uttarakhand to the tune of Rs39,97.37 crore as approved earlier under Disaster Reconstruction Packages by the Centre, the Chief Minister Harish Rawat has shot off a letter to the vice-chairman, Niti Ayog Arvind Pangariya on Wednesday.
He also mentioned in the letter that the Centre is yet to clear Rs448 Cr as approved by the Centre as one time assistance by way of compensating the losses incurred by the State as recommended by the 14th Finance Commission. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister’s media incharge Surendra kumar on wednesday.
The letter further says that despite a total package of Rs6089.02 crore having been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand in the aftermath of 2013 deluge, a meagre part of it has come to the State. For instance, the letter runs, Rs776.22 crore against the Rs1,100 crore approved under SPA-R has been received so far.
Similarly, Rs661.31 crore against the Rs1184.92 crore as approved under CSS-R and Rs654.12 crore against the Rs3104.1 crore as approved under EAP-R have been released till date.
The latter says that total Rs2091. 65 crore has been released till date while a whopping Rs3997.37 crore is due. Financial assistance was approved to implement the reconstruction projects in three years under the above- mentioned three heads. Now, the difference keeps widening between the approved and actually released funds over the past three years, says the letter, asking the Centre to release the due at the earliest to help the State get on with the projects in full swing. CM also asked the Centre through the letter to extend the time period of the package.
CM further said that 14th Finance Commission had recommended the Centre to release Rs448 crore as one- time settlement with the State incurring losses.
In 2015-16, the Centre had made provision of Rs20,000 crore. The Centre was apprised of the staggering losses the State had been incurring and they had sanctioned a handsome amount in November 2015. The State Government had provided the list of the remaining pending works under SPA projects. These SPA works were approved by the Centre in its list of annual projects. State has submitted its financial and physical progress report too along with utilisation certificate to the NITI Ayog, but it is yet to receive the money, the letter complains.