Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Mar 18: Reacting to the remark of the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) on the state government allotting over Rs 200 crore under untied fund across the state, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that there are was nothing wrong with the distribution of funds.
He said this during an event in Ziro on Sunday.
“What’s the problem in distributing these funds to all districts? When these funds are yet to be used, how can they allege corruption? Only when the schemes are sanctioned and the works not being up to satisfaction, can they point out misappropriation, if any”, said Pema.
He said opposition must be very specific when they make allegations on corruption and not raise objections based on their imagination.
Also reacting to Leader of Opposition, Takam Pario’s press statement on Saturday, wherein Pario alleged that the government is indulging in corruption, Government Spokesperson P D Sona refuted the allegations, stating the fund were allocated on need base.
“It is very unfortunate that the Leader of Opposition is questioning the allocation of funds. He should have rather questioned on judicious implementation of it”, Sona retorted while clarifying that the allocation of fund was purely on need basis.
On allocation of untied funds, Sona clarified that required funds were allocated to Namsai on need base because it has been created as divisional headquarter.
He also said that payments under untied fund will be released depending on work progress, and that the deputy commissioner has been given full authority to monitor effective implementation of all schemes.
“The schemes were selected in a very transparent manner based on the recommendation of all the deputy commissioners”, he added.
Govt set to implement schemes announced in state budget: Felix
PHED and IPR Minister Bamang Felix on Sunday informed that the government is all set to implement the schemes announced in the state budget.
Addressing media persons at the Press Information Centre of the Civil Secretariat here, along with Parliamentary Secretary P D Sona, the government spokesperson informed that Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein had announced on the floor of the house that they would direct the chief secretary to immediate convene a meeting involving all commissioners and secretaries to discuss the modalities and guidelines for immediate implementation of the schemes.
“Accordingly, the chief secretary had called a meeting of all the commissioners and secretaries to discuss about modalities and guidelines for speedy implementation of the schemes announced in the budget”, Felix said.
Felix further informed that 25 separate committees have been formed by the chief secretary to frame the modalities and guidelines.
“Each committee has been directed to frame guidelines by 30 April, 2018 and notification of the guidelines will be done by 10 May, 2018 so that fund can be flowed to the districts and departments on time”, the minister said.
He also said that a clear -cut timeline has been set for SADA schemes.
“Many new schemes have been launched in the budget, which focus on core sectors like rural farming economy, education, health, skill employment, entrepreneurship, gender empowerment, infrastructure, law and order, economic development, tourism and culture” the government spokesperson said.
He also informed that while framing of the budget, key principles of source mapping and economic development were kept in mind to ensure transparency in public spending through governance reforms.
The budget also focused on sustainable, equitable and inclusive development, improving human development indicators by giving priority to education, health and other skill development sectors. `
Further, Felix, who is also the Minister of PHED and IPR, clarified that there is no time-framed guideline for completion of a project within the month of March itself, especially on the amount earmarked under untied fund, and can be extended beyond March.
“How can you claim this fund is to be utilised within March? There is no such guideline or direction. There is no question of consuming fund within March”, Felix retorted.
Pario on Saturday had questioned on how projects would be implemented within one month’s time when there were only a few days left for the financial year to end.
