PTI
GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 13
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reviewed the progress and utilisation of Plan funds with ministers and senior officials of various departments.
In a marathon meeting at the Secretariat here, the Chief Minister directed the departments to expedite the process for release of funds after obtaining approval from the Planning and Development Department and sanctioning of funds by the Finance Department.
A Chief Minister’s office (CMO) release quoted Gogoi as stating, “There should not be any delay in moving the files”.
He directed the departments to immediately start infrastructure projects, including the storm water drainage project of Greater Guwahati, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Guwahati water supply project, roads and bridges and Chandrapur-Morigaon Road. The departments were also directed to submit utilisation certificates on time to obtain funds from the ministries.
“Timely utilisation of certificates is a must for getting the next instalment of funds. The departments must submit utilisation certificates without fail,” Gogoi said.
The departmental heads were further asked to sort out any procedural and systematic problems with the Chief Secretary to streamline the process for smooth implementation of schemes and projects, the release said.
“No excuses will be tolerated for dilly-dallying things,” the Chief Minister warned.
Gogoi would strictly monitor the utilisation of Plan funds by the departmental heads and would evaluate their performance by noting it down in their Annual Confidential Report (ACR), it said. “How senior officials of the departments have utilized their Plan allocation will reflect in their ACRs,” he said.
The Chief Minister wanted the departmental heads to prepare specific-project and scheme on the basis of benefits that would accrue from it. “The departments must identify the areas where specific projects can bring in benefits to the people. It must focus on backward and far-flung areas to ensure that the fruits of development reach out to the people. Projects must bring in benefits and they must be viable and cost-effective,” he said.
Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla exhorted upon senior officials to exert to the full in utilising Plan allocation to the optimum level.
“Don’t go home, stay overnight and finish your job. The process of sanction and release must not be delayed at any cost. The impact in the fields has to be seen,” Khosla said.
The departments would make statements detailing the proposals submitted, funds sanctioned and release of funds, Khosla said.
The Chief Secretary stressed on the need to complete paper works during the non-working season and to implement the schemes and projects after the monsoons, the release said.
The departments which came under review included Agriculture, Panchayat and Rural Development, Education, PWD (Roads), Health and Family Welfare, Social Welfare, Environment and Forest, Water Resources, Irrigation, Border Areas Development, Char Areas Development, Guwahati Development Department and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, the release said.
The meeting was attended by all ministers, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners and Secretaries of different departments, it added.
