Port Blair, July 3: The Lt Governor reviewed the financial position of the UT, both under Plan and Non-Plan Sections for the year 2014-15. The Secretary (Finance) briefed the Lt Governor that Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India has allocated Rs 1950.00 Cr. under Plan Section against the projection of Rs 2555.49 Cr. Similarly, under Non-Plan Section, an amount of Rs 1513.38 Cr. was provided against the projection of Rs 2165.52 Cr.
The Administration has requested Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to allocate an additional amount of Rs 862.50 Cr. which includes Rs 108.00 Cr. for PRIs under the Plan Section and Rs 652.14 Cr. under the Non-Plan Section. The said allocation has been sought for executing/implementing projects/schemes and for providing essential services like electricity, shipping, health education etc.
Consequent upon the review of the position of financial resources of the UT, directions were issued by the Lt Governor to ensure that there is complete transparency in allocation of funds for different projects/schemes. He directed that appropriate balance should be arrived at for securing optimum value of the funds out of the available resources. Directions were also issued that plan schemes/projects should be categorized in two lists: Priority (I) and Priority (II). Available funds under the Plan Section will be utilized for the projects/schemes falling in the first list i.e. Priority (I). If the Govt. of India allocates additional funds as demanded by the Administration, then schemes/projects falling in the Priority-II list will be undertaken.
The Lt Governor further directed the Finance Department to ensure that atleast 10% saving is brought about in respect of the items like furniture/fixtures, consumption of Petrol/HSD used by departmental vehicles, purchase/hiring /repair of vehicles, tours/ seminars/ Conferences, functions/ Celebrations, Stationery, Supplies & Materials, Travelling Expenses , Overtime Allowances and consumption of electricity both under Plan and Non-Plan Sections.
The Lt Governor also emphasized that all the officers/officials should exhibit ethos of utmost financial prudence and endeavour for progressive reduction of non-developmental expenditure.
