Patwa alleges underutilisation of funds by Rajasthan

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, MAY 13. The Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Sunder Lal Patwa, has criticised the Rajasthan Government for ``underutilisation'' of funds allocated under the Central schemes and ``crying hoarse'' over inadequate Central assistance for drought relief. The State Government had been allocated Rs. 910 crores under various schemes, including its share from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) but had failed to make use of it at the time of need.

``Why did the Rajasthan Government not make use of the funds available with it for providing succour to the drought affected, Mr. Patwa wanted to know on his arrival here on Friday, after a tour of the drought- hit Barmer and Jalore districts in western Rajasthan. ``It is for the State Government to carry out relief operations and the Centre cannot do anything directly in this regard'', he told presspersons.

Mr. Patwa said Rajasthan's plea to treat the foodgrains sanctioned by the Centre for the `Food for Work' programme as ``grant'' may not be considered favourably.``The Prime Minister and the Central Government are of the view that the grains should be given at the BPL rates'', he said. The Centre has allocated 5.5 lakh tonnes of wheat under the programme.

The Union Minister's allegations form part of the ongoing battle of wits between the Centre and the State over drought relief. Mr. Patwa, who met the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, reportedly requested him not to make drought relief a ``political issue''.

``I am giving you the break up of funds as the Chief Minister had charged the Centre of discriminating against the State'', he told pressperons.

According to him the Rajasthan Government had Rs. 910 crores with it, including Rs. 20 crores from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and Rs. 190 crores allocated for various rural development schemes last year but which were lying unutlised.

Mr. Patwa said the record of the State Government in the utilisation of Central funds had been ``poor''. ``In not a single rural development scheme here has the State fully utilised the sanctioned funds.''. ``The State should know that funds allocated for the Centrally- sponsored schemes are to be utilised and are not for diverting to other heads'', he observed.

Listing the Central allocations to the State, Mr. Patwa said two installments of the CRF,to the tune of Rs. 112 crores, had been released and the Centre would release the third instalment soon. Rs. 102.55 crores had been sanctioned for water supply schemes and Rs. 144.70 crores for three rural employment schemes. Another Rs. 8.70 crores had been made available under the Watershed Development programme, besides the latest sanction of Rs. 144 crores by NABARD.

Mr. Patwa, who had triggered-off the present controversy with his statements in Delhi, said the Centre had made free of cost the transport of fodder and water. The Reserve Bank of India had also converted short-term loans of the State into medium term loans.

The Central Ground Water Board had transferred its 231 tube wells to the State Government to help tide over the crisis.

Another 51 tube wells with the Board would soon be transferred to the State, he said.

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