Money lies idle with collectors for a year

After it came to power, the TD government in 2014 immediately asked the officials to stop all the works taken under SDF scheme till further orders. The government also asked officials not to pay the bills for incomplete works. But, after one year also the government did not take any decision on this issue. Collectors are waiting for the government’s decision to spent Rs 177 crore in the Assembly constituencies.

Former Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy introduced the SDF scheme in 2013-14 in the election year and allotted Rs 600 crore in the Budget in the combined state. The funds under this scheme were released on the discretion of the Chief Minister and the in-charge ministers without any administrative sanction or technical clearance from the concerned departments for under taking the works.

District officials have taken up various works under this scheme. After it came to power the TD government issued orders to freeze payments to the contactors and asked the officials to stop all incomplete works till further orders. The state government also constituted a Cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship of finance minister Yanamala Rama Krishnudu to examine the works undertaken under SDF scheme.

The Cabinet sub-committee also did not take any decision on this issue. The state government has categorised the works taken under SDF in three types, 100 per cent completed, 75 per cent and 25 per cent completed works. Generally contractors bring pressure on government to pay the pending bills. AP finance officials expressed surprise for no contractor is asking for payment of bills for works done by them under the SDF scheme. At present in AP, Rs 177 crore is pending with the collectors. Finance officials said the funds were deposited in PD account of collectors, and they cannot divert the funds without government direction.

Meanwhile, the AP government sanctioned Rs 18.75 lakh on Monday to take up the development works in Kuppam Assembly constituency in Chittoor district represent by AP Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu.