Non-receipt of audit accounts delays release of funds to Gujarat

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The government today said it had agreed to provide financial assistance of Rs. nine crore to Gujarat for setting up a Science city at Ahmedabad.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said that of Rs nine crore, her ministry had so far released Rs. eight crore to the Gujarat Council of Science City (GCSC), which has been entrusted with the task of executing the project.

Ms Soni said the Culture Ministry had received request from GCSC for release of the balance amount of Rs. one crore for the project.

However, due to non-receipt of Annual Audited Statements of Accounts of the GCSC from 2002-03 onwards as well as of Utilization Certificate for the grants released during 2005-06, the ministry was unable to release the amount of Rs. one crore, she informed the House.

Replying to another query, she said there was no provision in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules, 1959 for declaring cities as heritage cities.

The minister said the 1958 Act provided for declaring ancient and historical monuments as monuments of national importance, their protection and conservation.

A total of 3667 monuments and sites in the country have been declared as monuments of national importance.

The conservation, preservation, structural repairs and environmental development and provision of visitors facilities at these monuments is undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In addition to the budgetary allocation for such activities, the government had also constituted a National Culture Fund for channelising funds from public and private sector for conservation of heritage, she said.

UNI