The absence of an elected Government and bureaucratic red-tapism have taken a heavy toll on both governance and development since the Centre imposed President’s Rule in the national Capital in February. The babus have failed to perform during President’s Rule in Delhi. Nearly 60 per cent of Rs16,700-crore total plan Budget remained unspent with only about a quarter of the current fiscal remaining. The non-plan budget also crossed over 60 per cent.
The Delhi Government now faces the prospect of cut in its budgetary allocations for the next financial year if the budget is not utilised. Three departments used less than 10 per cent of their approved budget while 11 departments used less than 30 per cent. Several ongoing projects of infrastructure have been hanging fire. Besides, revenue collections have declined by Rs3,000 crore in the current fiscal year between April and November. Worried over poor revenue collection and non-utilisation of planned budget by the departments, the Delhi Government has banned purchase/replacement of old vehicles and purchase of stationary.
Top sources told The Pioneer that there is huge unspent planned fund to the tune of 60 per cent of total allocation in the Delhi Government’s Budget in this financial year. The reason is not difficult to ascertain. Bureaucrats are unable to pursue the projects for which budgetary allocations have been made. In the absence of an elected Government, the Government’s spending on plan heads have reached a deadlock causing embarrassment to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, who is heading the Delhi administration since the month of February.
Among all the departments, which could not spend their allocations, Power, Food and Supplies, and Tourism departments are the worst performers as these departments have spent less than 10 per cent of the total allocation.
There are 11 departments, including Rural Development Board, Environment and Forest, Industries, Election, Revenue, SC/ST/OBC Welfare, Training and Technical Education, Trade and Tax, GAD and academic, which have spent less than 30 per cent of their allocated budget till November this year.
Besides non-utilisation of the budget under plan head, the poor revenue collection (there is a decline of Rs3,000 crore till November) also reflected how callous and non-performers are the babus in the Delhi Government.
Majority of them are reportedly blue-eyed boys of lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.
The question arises that how the Delhi Government’s departments will use their budget before enforcing the Model Code of Conduct for the Assembly polls in the national Capital. “If Delhi fails to utilise its plan budget, the Centre may cut its plan allocation for the next financial year,” said the sources.
Strangely, the Transport Department has used Rs669 crore out of Rs1,702 crore allocated to it and majority of the amount was used to make payments on the Delhi Metro. No order of new bus cluster was ordered.
Similarly, PWD has used Rs956 crore till November out of Rs1,700 crore allocated fund. Most of the expenditure was made on the ongoing projects. Not a single project was taken up by the PWD in the current financial year.
It is noted that PWD has spent 73 per cent of the budget in constructing staff quarters. The Higher and Technical Education has spent only
Rs53 crore of its Rs151 crore budget allocation.
As per document, the growth rate is-4 per cent (minus four per cent) in stamp registration fees collection; -7 per cent in luxury tax collection (minus 7 per cent); and -21 per cent Betting tax collection. The growth rate in VAT, entertainment (cable), and excise is less than 10 per cent. The Rural Development Board has used only Rs26 crore out of Rs203 crore allocated fund.