Mani accuses LDF govt of 'mismanagement' of allocated funds

Kochi, Jan 10 (UNI) Kerala Congress (M), a constituent of the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), today charged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government with not utilising the funds allocated in the budget for the developmental activities of the state.

Talking to newspersons here, KC(M) President and MLA K M Mani said State Finance Minister Thomas Issac was a ''failure'' in channelising funds for various projects.

''The success of development projects depends on its timely execution and not on the quantum and size of the project,'' Mr Mani said.

He said the utilisation of funds for the execution of projects was just 20 per cent as on October 31, 2007, indicating that the Government had ''utterly failed'' in the development of the state.

In the local self-government department, out of the total allocation of Rs 1,790 crore, only Rs 196 crore had been used by the government, he claimed.

''The Finance Ministry failed to uphold the sanctity and credibility of the state budget as it could not generate income and regulate expenditure as per the budget,'' Mr Mani alleged.

He said the state government should chalk out policies to develop the agriculture sector to generate employment.

UNI MA SJ SP KN1551