Naveen Rues Delay In Release Of Central Funds

New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed anguish over the inordinate delay in the release of pending central assistance.

Reviewing the status of the release of central funds to Odisha during 2018-19 at Odisha Bhawan here, he said while two months are left for the end of the current financial year, the state is yet to receive over Rs 6400 crore pertaining to agriculture, housing, rural development, health, education, women & child development, roads, irrigation and drinking water.

He also said that the Centre is yet to release more than Rs 1000 crore for housing, over Rs 375 crore for health, more than Rs 400 crore under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and over Rs 650 crore under agriculture. He also observed that while the Odisha government is spending more than Rs 3000 crore on drinking water from the state budget, the Centre has allocated a meagre Rs 180 crore, of which it has released just about Rs 80 crore so far. Besides, under Smart City Poverty Alleviation, out of Rs 200 crore, the state has received only Rs 6 crore till date, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister impressed upon officials of the office of Chief Resident Commissioner about the urgency of the matter and asked them to closely monitor the release of pending Central funds and sincerely follow up to ensure the release of the maximum amount due to the state by the end of February.

Chief Resident Commissioner Sunil Bhargava apprised the Chief Minister that a team of 10 officials has been formed to effectively liaise with the concerned departments and facilitate the release of the balance pending Central funds to the state. He assured that all efforts will be made during the next one month to secure maximum release by February.