CM refutes relief fund embezzlement charge

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 13

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has refuted the allegation of misappropriation of Rs 1,509 crore disaster relief funds given to the state by the Central government for relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation works following the natural disaster in June 2013. The controversy arose following revelation in a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application showing a gap of Rs 1,509 crore in the amount sanctioned by he Central government and the money received by the state government for the purpose. In the election year, the BJP has latched onto the opportunity and tried to make it an election issue.

The Chief Minister, while speaking with mediapersons here today, tried to clear the issue with the help of financial data. He took pains to explain the financial mechanism between the Central and state governments. He said the state had not received Rs 1,509 crore as revealed in the reply to an RTI application.

Rawat gave detailed break-up of the disaster relief money given by the Central government and said the state was sanctioned Rs 7,500.90 crore for disaster relief and reconstruction for three years. The period could be extended, he added.

Of the amount sanctioned, the state had received Rs 2,486.13 crore and spent Rs 2,162.22 crore for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction works. He said the remaining amount of about Rs 324 crore was in the consolidated fund of the state.

Rawat said the state was given Rs 154.11 crore under the Prime Minister Relief Fund, out of which the government had spent Rs146.78 crore, while Rs 1,207.87 crore was sanctioned under the State Disaster Relief Fund and the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) but the government had received Rs 691.31 crore. The remaining amount had been credited to the Indian Air Force directly which raised bills for the relief operations carried out by it. Of the total Rs 691.31 crore, the government had already spent Rs 371.19 crore.

Under the Special Planned Assistance (reconstruction), Rs 1,100 crore was sanctioned but only Rs 663.40 crore was released to the state. Of this amount, the government had spent Rs 386.82 crore. Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (reconstruction), the Centre sanctioned Rs 1,884.92 crore but the state received Rs 661.31 crore and of it utilised Rs 250 crore.

Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh said the state spent funds under the Externally Aided Programmes (EAP) and then sought reimbursement from the Centre. For such schemes, the Centre sanctioned Rs 3,104 crore but the state received Rs 316 crore. However, the state had already spent Rs 1,007.43 crore under the head. “This is a continuous process and the Centre reimburses the money spent by the states,” he explained.

The Chief Minister said the confusion was due to the difference between the sanctioned amount and the actual money released by the Central government. “There is no chance of misappropriation of funds given by the Centre as all money is audited. The confusion is due to the budgetary provisions made by the state in anticipation of the money to be released by the Centre,” he said.

On the question of the quality of disaster reconstruction works, Rawat said the government would depute a third party to check their quality and quantity.