Worried over the sluggish pace of Integrated Action Plan (IAP) implementation in three districts, the Planning Commission has ticked off the Odisha Government. The three districts Ganjam, Jajpur and Nayagarh were included in IAP later.
Besides, Gajapati district too has been tardy in its implementation of the IAP triggering the missive from the Plan panel.
According to Planning Commission reports, Ganjam has managed to complete just 1.14 per cent of projects it had taken up. Of the 352 projects, the district has completed just four while managing to spend just about 20 pc of the Central funds. The district was sanctioned ` 30 crore.
The other two new districts __ Jajpur and Nayagarh __ were better in their performance, marginally though. While Jajpur district was able to spend 33.73 pc of the funds, its project implementation stood at 32 pc having completed 195 out of 592 projects. Nayagarh, on its part, completed 54 of the 293 projects and managed to spend just 36 pc of funds achieving a project implementation rate of 18.43 pc.
In its letter, the Planning Commission said the expenditure of 13 out of the 15 old districts is satisfactory with spending exceeding 80 pc. Gajapati did not make the cut with 64 pc spending. Similarly, in Rayagada, it was about 75 pc. In Gajapati, only 39 pc of the 1,270 projects were completed whereas in Rayagada, it was over 83 pc which was fairly good.
The Plan panel said slow implementation by Ganjam, Jajpur and Nayagarh may lead to further delay in the projects and requested the State Government to ensure that the programme is monitored closely while assets, created under IAP, are mapped properly.
One of the reasons behind the Planning Commission’s missive was to expedite the progress so that the districts can avail of a new scheme proposed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The ministry is planning to introduce a pilot scheme for installation of solar lantern charging stations on 90 pc subsidy basis in the IAP districts.
Taking note of the commission’s letter, the Planning and Coordination Department has asked the districts __ Gajapati, to be particular __ to ensure speedy implementation of the projects. Ganjam, Jajpur and Nayagarh have also been asked to furnish lists of villages where the solar charging stations project can be piloted.
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