NDA's claim on utilisation of funds challenged

Patna, Nov 28 (UNI) RJD state president Abdul Bari Siddiqui today accused the Bihar government of 'hoodwinking' the people by presenting misleading figures in respect of utilisation of funds.

Refuting the claim of NDA government in Bihar of spending 36 per cent of the funds meant for various welfare and developmental schemes, Mr Siddiqui said reports received from treasuries put the percentage of utilisation at 15.

Talking to reporters here, he said that against total plan allocation of Rs 9,450 crores for the current financial year, the expenditure under different heads stood at only Rs 1,374 crores till November 20 last.

Referring to the claim of deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi that the sate government had spent Rs 3,474 crores, he clarified that state planning department had given the 'go ahead' signal for various schemes involving the said amount and it could never be assumed as expenditure of the government.

Mr Siddiqui recalled that the Bihar government had claimed during the last Assembly session that condition of roads would be improved in the state on priority basis, but almost all roads continued to be in pathetic state as yet.

He said that the state government had floated global tenders for construction and repairing the roads but no agency had so far evinced interest in this respect.

He apprehended large scale loot of government funds in coming days in the name of utilising the money for execution of welfare and development schemes.

''Eleven departments, including agriculture, education and public health department could spend only about 10 per cent of the allocated funds so far during the current financial year,'' he pointed out.

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