Chief Minister Harish Rawat has asked the principal secretaries to inform their subordinates, especially the heads of the departments (HoD), about the approved budget so that they can utilise the same within the stipulated time. They have been told to prepare a plan by August 7 and the money should reach the concerned departments by August 15.
“Its objective is to release the Budget fast so that we can compensate loss incurred over six months because of political crisis,” CM said. He also thanked the Governor for
giving ascent to the appropriation bill-2016 on July 22. This year, budget will be allocated in ongoing and upcoming announcements, CM added while holding a meeting on the budget implementation at the secretariat on Saturday.
CM directed all the departments to present roadmap of budget implementation of their respective departments before the Chief Secretary’s Office by July 31. Minimum time should be spent to complete the
formalities during the process, he stressed, adding that all the departments have to work on fast tracks to speed things up.
Chief Secretary will resolve the financial and other inter-ministerial matters of various departments after reviewing the issues twice a week- Monday and Wednesday. Financial and other officials concerned will be present during this review session, CM said.
Rawat stressed that the State had to bear losses on account of the delay of four to five months. It is thus imperative for the administrative machinery to fill up the gap as much as possible through
efficient and speedy functioning. He asked the officials to speed up things and not to waste time on conforming to formalities. This was needed to recompense the losses, he said.
Finance department should grant approvals on the proposals of various departments within a fixed timeframe. A fixed percentage of planned expenditure should be kept apart to be discharged by the heads of the departments.
Departments should not park the budget fund in the banks, he instructed, adding that a simple mechanism should be set into motion by Finance Department to release fund contribution of State Government within a maximum of 10 days once the Central funds are received for the Centrally financed schemes.
Chief Minister asked the officials to start field implementation on all the budget approvals of various departments by September 15. The details of losses that various Departments had to bear due to heavy rainfall must be sent within two to three days to the Chief Secretary’s Office.
He instructed the officials to ensure that constant monitoring is done on the working of DPRs and utility certificates. He warned against any sort of carelessness on these matters. Senior officials of the State have to be in contact with the Central Government officials constantly along with dispatching various proposals of public’s interest to receive central aid for various schemes. MIS will be made for online supervision at tehsil and block levels of various schemes implemented by the State Government for the welfare of the people.