Outcome Budget review: govt threatens to cut funds

Says failure to implement programmes should reflect in service record of officers concerned

Failure to implement programmes as per the targets set out in the Outcome Budget should reflect in the service record of the officer concerned, the Aam Aadmi Party government ordered on Tuesday.

This, despite, the elected government not having control over all matters of services, which are directly controlled by the Lieutenant-Governor — something the AAP government is contesting in the Supreme Court.

Meeting targets

Starting the second quarter review of the Outcome Budget 2017-2018 on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty and Principal Secretary of Finance and Planning Departments S.N. Sahai that if the performance of a scheme did not meet targets, then it should be mentioned in the records of the head of the department and the official concerned, sources said.

The detailed goal-oriented Outcome Budget with 1,938 different indicators was presented in March, with the first review being held in July this year. The second quarter review will end on December 7.

According to officials, at a meeting last week to prepare for the review, officials of different departments were told that funds would be cut for schemes that were not meeting targets and allocated elsewhere.

On Tuesday, the review started with the Environment department’s work being assessed, with Mr. Sisodia and Environment and Forest Minister Imran Hussain present. During the review, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee submitted that it had issued 1,640 show-cause notices to polluting industries and 128 closure directions from April till September. However, the DPCC was unable to give data on the number of units that were actually closed, said an official.

DPCC data

The DPCC data also showed that 25% of 360 samples, 35% of 156 and 20% of 562 samples taken by it from sewage treatment plants, common effluent treatment plants and effluent treatment plants had failed quality checks. The matter would be taken up in the reviews of the Delhi Jal Board and the Industries Department, said the official.

During the review of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Mr. Sisodia directed officials to conduct an independent study of fair price shops to see if customers were happy with the service. About 500 to 600 shops would be covered through random sampling and the study would begin in a month, said the official.

Meanwhile, the review of the Social Welfare Department was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but did not happen as the Chief Secretary was not present, leading Mr. Sisodia to express his displeasure, said an official present. The Centre issued an order for the transfer of Mr. Kutty, who was present for the reviews of the Environment and Food and Civil Supplies departments, on Tuesday.