Make use of Plan funds, local bodies told

Finish projects in time, says Collector

District Collector C.A. Latha has asked local bodies to use at least 60 per cent of Plan funds, allocated this fiscal, by the end of the year.

She was speaking at a meeting of the District Planning Committee at the Collectorate conference hall here on Wednesday.

The three-tier local bodies should show the determination to execute the projects within the stipulated time, she said.

Amendments approved

The conference also passed amendments to some of the projects of 33 local bodies. All existing and new projects should be completed in a time-bound manner, the Collector said.

There were many local bodies which had utilised only 20 per cent of the Plan funds.

These grama panchayats should rectify the defects and implement the projects as soon as possible, Ms. Latha said.

It was found that the Keezhaiyur and Arikkulam, and Perambra grama panchayats; and the Kunnummal, Kozhikode, and Kunnamangalam block panchayats had utilised over 40 per cent of the funds.

New directives

The district administration would recommend to the State government to extend the deadline for implementing the spill-over projects to January 31.

District panchayat president Kannathil Jameela said it would be difficult for grama panchayats to keep pace with the new directives of the State government. “As of now, most local bodies would have utilised anywhere between 30 and 40 per cent of the funds. Already, the local bodies are struggling to beat the State government’s December 31 deadline for completing spill-over projects,” Ms. Jameela said.

Issues raised

The district panchayat, 12 block panchayats, 75 grama panchayats, two municipalities (Vadakara and Koyilandy), and the Kozhikode Corporation faced a tough task executing the Plan fund projects.

The major problems were shortage of staff and delay in payments from the Treasury Department. Without the requisite funds, no work could be done, she said.

The government had issued a fresh notification stating that no spill-over projects would be entertained after March 31. This would mean the funds allocated would lapse, she added.