ND: S

New Delhi, May 2: A Parliamentary panel has pulled up the Science and Technology Ministry for dilly-dallying in implementing the programmes relating to Ocean Science, dubbing the delays as ''serious instances of bad planning and management''.

''Same old excuses have been given for disproportionate variations in the utilisation of allocated funds under various programmes,'' says the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, in its 173rd Report.

The Ministry informed the Committee that during 2006-07, only Rs 85.54 crore could be spent on Indian Meteorological Department against the Budgetary provision of Rs 105 crore due to delays in procurement of DCWDS, automatic message switching system (AMSS) and telecom facilities at field stations.

For tsunami and storm surge warning system, Rs 56 crore were spent against the allocated Rs 95 crore. The savings, the Ministry said, was due to delay in finalisation of hardware and software required for the programme.

Similarly, Rs 47 crore were used on the National Institute of Ocean Technology against Rs 87 crore. The variation was due to delay in commissioning the operation of barge-based desalination plant and in obtaining clearances for acquisition of land towards development of sea front facilities.

Advising the Ministry to avoid such administrative delays, the Committee says it should strategically plan all its activities and aspire for timely implementations of all major projects.

The panel has also pointed to the stagnation and lack of avenues in scientific fields, and has advocated a comprehensive programme that will have a positive impact on the scientific fraternity.

It has appreciated the research work carried out in Antarctica, and asked the Ministry to undertake every possible institutional and logistic activity to establish the third permanent Indian Base in the Larsemann Ranges.

It has also recommended that the two new schemes Expedition to Arctic and Ice-class Research Vessel proposed in the XIth Five Year Plan, should be pursued in a well-planned manner.

UNI