Pending Utilisation Certificates stalling fund releases: Joykumar

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 28

Deputy chief minister, Y. Joukumar Singh, who is also holding the portfolio of finance, claimed that the current budget of the state is a “surplus” despite the criticism from the Opposition on the inability to pull in substantial funds from Centre.

Joykumar Singh, clarified that the failure to issue Utilisation Certificate (UC) was the reason for the government’s inability to draw funds.

He maintained that the departments face hurdles in the due process to claim more funds from the Centre due to pending of submission of UC.

He pointed out that there was a total pending of submission of UC of Rs. 8525.67 crore by January 31. But, the government under his strong instruction managed to submit UC amounting to Rs. 1846.61 crore just a month back despite the time constraint, he said.

Admitting that the plan size of the budget for the current years was not up to expectation comparatively, he said it was due to excessive revenue expenditures (RE) because of regularizing contract employees, and recruitment of large number of new employees.

Nevertheless, the deputy chief minister claimed that the budget was a “surplus budget” having Rs. 223.68 core (surplus) after deducting all the expenditure. Despite the fact, the government had to begin with an opening balance of a deficit of 877.20 crore, he continued.

The finance minister further said that the department is exploring other avenues besides the existing ones, to increase the state revenue. He revealed that the cabinet has also informally discussed on the possibilities of sale for locally brewed liquor outside the state.

The deputy chief minister, while responding to queries on excise department said the total sanctioned post in excise department is 704 including superintendent of excise.

Of the total 704 sanctioned post, 354 post are lying vacant including 47 posts (sanctioned strength) are that of inspector with 18 vacant post.

He further said that 61 posts are vacant against 88 sanctioned posts of sub-inspectors, 62 ASI vacant against 120 (sanctioned post) and 190 vacancies for constables against 414 (sanctioned post).

Due to the shortage of man-power the department is unable to function effectively, he said adding that out of the total 39 stations, 10 stations are without inspectors.

The minister further assured that the department in consultation with the chief minister would do the needful in due course of time.

Revenue minister, Karam Shyam, said the department is one of the oldest departments and backbone of the administration.

With the creation of seven new districts the state has now a total district of 16 districts and 67 sub-divisions the requirement for more powers has arises, he said adding that of the total requirement of 2,928 staffs there are 2149 employees and has a total vacancies of 779 staffs.

He further informed the House that as per survey the total area of agricultural land is 1,37,057.27 hectres in the state from which a total of Rs. 1,6,8,233.28 revenue can be generated.

Similarly, a revenue of Rs. 23,51,464.94 can also be generated from 27,860.96 hactor of homestead areas excluding Imphal Municipal areas.

With Rs. 15,35,239 revenue collectable from an 1569.3608 hectres of homesteads within Municipal areas of Imphal East and West combined the department can generate a total of Rs. 1,44,94,837.27, he said.

With the shortage of manpower in the department and the fact that the revenue rate has never been revised since 2003 the department is unable to collect substantial amount of revenue, said Karam Shyam.

However, Shyam informed the House that the matter has been discussed with the finance department and the same would be apprised to the chief minister, and that process for revision is under active consideration.

Further clarifying on queries of the Opposition bench particularly to make hill district as revenue areas, he said that the matter was up to the House and that he cannot give any assurance on the issue.

Nevertheless, he expressed his desire on the floor of the House to maintain records of all the lands in the hill districts for the convenient of the state.

Clarifying on the failure to compensate to inhabitants of Haraothel which has been acquired for construction of sports university, Shyam denied acquisition of any public land before adding that the land allotted for the varsity was government land.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 28

Deputy chief minister, Y. Joukumar Singh, who is also holding the portfolio of finance, claimed that the current budget of the state is a “surplus” despite the criticism from the Opposition on the inability to pull in substantial funds from Centre.

Joykumar Singh, clarified that the failure to issue Utilisation Certificate (UC) was the reason for the government’s inability to draw funds.

He maintained that the departments face hurdles in the due process to claim more funds from the Centre due to pending of submission of UC.

He pointed out that there was a total pending of submission of UC of Rs. 8525.67 crore by January 31. But, the government under his strong instruction managed to submit UC amounting to Rs. 1846.61 crore just a month back despite the time constraint, he said.

Admitting that the plan size of the budget for the current years was not up to expectation comparatively, he said it was due to excessive revenue expenditures (RE) because of regularizing contract employees, and recruitment of large number of new employees.

Nevertheless, the deputy chief minister claimed that the budget was a “surplus budget” having Rs. 223.68 core (surplus) after deducting all the expenditure. Despite the fact, the government had to begin with an opening balance of a deficit of 877.20 crore, he continued.

The finance minister further said that the department is exploring other avenues besides the existing ones, to increase the state revenue. He revealed that the cabinet has also informally discussed on the possibilities of sale for locally brewed liquor outside the state.

The deputy chief minister, while responding to queries on excise department said the total sanctioned post in excise department is 704 including superintendent of excise.

Of the total 704 sanctioned post, 354 post are lying vacant including 47 posts (sanctioned strength) are that of inspector with 18 vacant post.

He further said that 61 posts are vacant against 88 sanctioned posts of sub-inspectors, 62 ASI vacant against 120 (sanctioned post) and 190 vacancies for constables against 414 (sanctioned post).

Due to the shortage of man-power the department is unable to function effectively, he said adding that out of the total 39 stations, 10 stations are without inspectors.

The minister further assured that the department in consultation with the chief minister would do the needful in due course of time.

Revenue minister, Karam Shyam, said the department is one of the oldest departments and backbone of the administration.

With the creation of seven new districts the state has now a total district of 16 districts and 67 sub-divisions the requirement for more powers has arises, he said adding that of the total requirement of 2,928 staffs there are 2149 employees and has a total vacancies of 779 staffs.

He further informed the House that as per survey the total area of agricultural land is 1,37,057.27 hectres in the state from which a total of Rs. 1,6,8,233.28 revenue can be generated.

Similarly, a revenue of Rs. 23,51,464.94 can also be generated from 27,860.96 hactor of homestead areas excluding Imphal Municipal areas.

With Rs. 15,35,239 revenue collectable from an 1569.3608 hectres of homesteads within Municipal areas of Imphal East and West combined the department can generate a total of Rs. 1,44,94,837.27, he said.

With the shortage of manpower in the department and the fact that the revenue rate has never been revised since 2003 the department is unable to collect substantial amount of revenue, said Karam Shyam.

However, Shyam informed the House that the matter has been discussed with the finance department and the same would be apprised to the chief minister, and that process for revision is under active consideration.

Further clarifying on queries of the Opposition bench particularly to make hill district as revenue areas, he said that the matter was up to the House and that he cannot give any assurance on the issue.

Nevertheless, he expressed his desire on the floor of the House to maintain records of all the lands in the hill districts for the convenient of the state.

Clarifying on the failure to compensate to inhabitants of Haraothel which has been acquired for construction of sports university, Shyam denied acquisition of any public land before adding that the land allotted for the varsity was government land.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/2319-pending-utilisation-certificates-stalling-fund-releases-joykumar