Over Rs 1,500 crore central funds lying unspent in 13 drought-hit states
New Delhi: With some states reeling under severe drought, Union Minister Birender Singh on Wednesday rued that over Rs 1,500 crore central funds are lying unspent in states which could have been used to mitigate the drinking water crisis in the parched areas.
"Till yesterday Rs 1,720 crore released by the Rural Development Ministry (to meet the drinking water needs) was not spent by the states. Today, Rajasthan has sent a report saying it has spent the sum of Rs 225 crore it had got. Even after this almost Rs 1,500 crore are lying unspent with the states," the Rural Development Minister said.
Noting that there have been drought-like situation in 13 states, he said out of these, 10 states have declared drought in some of their areas.
"In these drought-affected states, the funds lie idle at district level. The money is lying there as either the projects were not taken up or they got slowed down," Singh said, when asked about the criticism of the Centre for not doing enough to mitigate the water crisis.
Responding to questions about demands for declaring drought situation in states a national calamity, Singh said this can only be decided by the Home Ministry, which can give up to Rs 5,000 crore to states depending upon the intensity of the calamity.
"Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who hails from Telangana has demanded that his state should be given Rs 550 crore. It is for the Home Ministry to decide on this. But a sum of Rs 350 crore given to Telangana by the rural development ministry is lying unspent.”
"Centre is ready to help but states should spend the funds. Water is a state subject and moreover money is already lying with them," Singh said.
He said he has already asked the states to utilise 10 per cent of the flexi funds lying with them for mitigating the problems like natural calamity even as the Centre was extending support to them.
"10 per cent of this Rs 1720 crore is flexi fund, which the states can spend as per their discretion. So at least they can spend this 170 crore flexi fund, for fighting the natural calamity like this," Singh said.
The flexi funds are earmarked for rural development programmes designed by the states according to their needs.
The Centre and states share 70:30 per cent ratio of this fund. Availability of flexi-fund is aimed to ensure better targeting and focused projects on state-specific priorities.
This fund is available as an additional amount that can be spent either on existing centrally-sponsored schemes of the Union ministry.
Singh said his ministry has also released Rs 823 crore for the month of April-May to the states for making available the potable water in parched areas.
