Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110756330600.htm

Kerala

Fund utilisation poor, says Jacob

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T.M. Jacob has said that the State is witnessing an administrative stalemate.

Mr. Jacob said in a statement here on Friday that the government could not utilise even 50 per cent of the Plan fund worth Rs.7,700 crore. This was proof of its administrative lapses.

The three-tier panchayats have so far utilised only 11 per cent of the sanctioned funds. Expenditure lapses have been noticed in the projects with foreign and NABARD assistance. Only 15 per cent funds of the Kerala State Urban Development Project has been expended so far.

The rate of expenditure of Plan funds in Cooperative Department was 22 per cent, 18 per cent in Culture Department, 24 per cent in Agriculture Department, 25 per cent in Education Department and nine per cent in Social Welfare Department. Failure in utilising funds amounted to cheating the public, he said.