Arun Singh
ET Report
JAMMU, Nov 4: In brazen violation of norms, State Finance Department has allegedly diverted Rs 150 crore meant for developmental works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) for the payment of salaries of Government employees.
Moreover, the payment of bills of the work done by the contractors under PMGSY to the tune of crore of rupees are still pending for the last two years. Further, reprimanding the State Government for its non- performing attitude in utilizing the Central Government's funds for development works appropriately, Center has blocked further projects of Phase-10 to the tune of Rs 115 crore.
Sources told Early Times that the Government of India had released Rs 150 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna to the State Government for executing development under the programme. "The funds which were received by State Finance Department were diverted by the department for disbursing the salaries of Government employees in sheer violation of the norms," they alleged.
Interestingly, the Finance Department, without caring about the abandoned work that needed to be executed on priority for connecting the unconnected areas of the State under PMGSY, took this step arbitrarily just to disburse the salaries of employees, sources alleged, adding the almost all works being executed under PMGSY have come to halt.
Moreover, now State Finance Department is maintaining that Rs 150 crore, which were diverted for salaries, would be reimbursed for the PMGSY works in three installments but it depends on the further funding from centre, they added.
With this insensitive attitude of the State Government, hundreds of contractors who executed works under PMGSY are waiting for their payment of bills which are pending for the last two years, they said. |
