State departments spent only 42 per cent of budget

While the state government is facing financial strain and finding it difficult to allot funds for welfare schemes, information sought from the finance department has revealed that only 42 per cent of the budget funds allotted to the various departments were spent till February 29. The housing department has spent the least — three per cent — of the budget allotted to it and the water resources, PWD, food and civil supplies planning, water supply departments have spent only 30 per cent of the budget allotted to them. The funds allotted will lapse as the deadline to spend funds is nearing and the state is going to present its new budget on March 18.

There are only 27 days left for the financial year to end and the government departments have not spent the funds allocated in last year’s budget. The information sought from the finance department showed that the housing department, led by Prakash Mehta, was allotted Rs 579 crore and it has spent Rs 20 crore which is 3.36 per cent.

The water resources department, led by minister Girish Mahajan, was given Rs 11,833 crore of which it has spent Rs 1,454 crore i.e. 12.28 per cent. The public works department got Rs 11,657 crore and spent Rs 1,353 crore, which is 11.6 per cent. Another important department, the food and civil supplies was allotted Rs 6874.25 of which it spent Rs 786 crore i.e. 11.43 per cent. The planning department, led by finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar himself, was given Rs 25,383 crore and spent Rs 4,930 crore which is 19.4 per cent.

The water supply and sanitation department has spent Rs 1,486 crore out of the Rs 3,568 crore sanctioned (41 per cent) to it.

Two departments that have spent over 70 per cent of the funds are the school education and law and judiciary departments. The school education department was allotted Rs 41,147 crore and spent Rs 31,088 that is 75.5 per cent. The law and judiciary department, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, got Rs 1,707 crore and spent Rs 1,198 crore (70 per cent).

When contacted, Mr Mungatiwar said that the deadline of March 15 was given to avoid last minute rush. “The departments will utilise the funds. But they are not allowed to spend on procurement. The funds can only be spent for the purpose it has been allotted for,” he said. Also, the minister claimed that the departments have spent around 77 per cent, but could not give details.