Delhi struggles to spend funds

Hit by allegations of corruption in CWG projects, the Delhi government is now struggling to implement fresh projects and spend plan outlay of Rs 13,600 crore.

Hit by allegations of corruption in CWG projects, the Delhi government is now struggling to implement fresh projects and spend plan outlay of Rs 13,600 crore.

HT Image

In the first six months of the fiscal, the government could only spend Rs 1,800 crore which is just 13% of the total plan outlay, a top official said.

The government now has the onerous challenge of spending the remaining Rs 11,800 crore by March 31, next year, if it wants to ensure full utilisation of the plan outlay in the current financial year.

The spendings by various departments have not picked up any momentum despite directions being issued to them from time-to-time.

Admitting slowing down of the decision making process, the official attributed it to apprehensions among officials about facing scrutiny of agencies like Comptroller and Auditor General in future.

“We are really struggling to spend the money in this fiscal as decision making process has slowed down following probe by various agencies into the CWG projects," the official said.

While presenting a Rs 27,067-crore budget in March, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had set aside Rs 13,600 crore for plan expenditure for 2011-12.

The official said bureaucrats are particularly jittery about taking decisions as some of the decisions taken in the run up to the Commonwealth Games to ensure speedy implementation of certain projects were severely slammed by CAG as well as Shunglu Committee.