The Hindu : Officialdom denies misuse of TSP funds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Officialdom denies misuse of TSP funds

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 21. Official sources clarified here on Sunday that the extension of time limits for use of TSP funds and its withdrawal from treasury in March for later use were not a new development.

Denying that the allegation that there were irregularities in the use of TSP funds this year, the sources said that time had been extended for use of the funds in the past also.

However, in the past the funds were being kept without proper authorisation.

This time the practice was regularised through an order of the Finance Department that allowed use of the funds up to June 30, the sources claimed.

During the LDF rule, time was given up to June 30, 1998 as per G.O. 1603/93 of June 16, 1998 for use of the Local Bodies Plan Fund budgeted for use in 1997-98, they recalled.

The Finance Department had issued orders in 1998-99 for release of new instalments without utilisation certificate on funds released earlier.

The sources added that because of the extension of time limit for use of TSP funds budgeted for 2001-02, work on as many as 3,889 houses in different stages of construction, two irrigation projects, 178 huts, 24 roads, 273 small industrial units, three anganvadi buildings, 325 latrines and two community halls could be completed.

Besides, solar lamps could be fitted in 1,944 houses and electrification of 14 colonies could be taken up.

The officials continued that the department could also clear arrears in payment of educational benefits totalling Rs. 1.5 crores.

Besides, several dairy units could be set up.

Referring to allegations about non-utilisation of funds, they said that as per accounts received from various offices of the Scheduled Tribes Department, Rs. 2,18,47,399 was remaining unspent in 1999-2000 and Rs. 30,85,8281 in 2000-2001.

In 2001-2002, the Government had banned transfer of the remaining amounts to treasury (T.P.) accounts.

This necessitated the keeping of the money as cash and drafts.

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