Arunachal government delaying in submitting UCs: BJP

ITANAGAR: The Opposition BJP in Arunachal Pradesh today castigated the state government for making inordinate delays in submitting utilisation certificates (UCs) against various central schemes, which resulted delay in fund flow from the Centre.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Tamiyo Taga raising a Special Mention in the house claimed the state government received funds under various schemes during 2013-14, but could not utilise it and diverted them.

He said the government during the period received Rs 320 crore under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), but only Rs 80 crore was paid to the contractors.

"Non-submission of UCs has created an impression of Arunachal as a non-performing state, which resulted in delay of funds from the Centre against important projects," he said.

Stating that development works should not be politicised, the BJP leader said his the party was ready to extend all help to the government, and a team in August last year met Union ministers and submitted memorandums seeking funds.

Responding to Taga, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said submission of UCs was a continuous process and normally became due after 12-18 months from the date of release of funds.

"The question of delays in submission of UCs against funds released under 2014-15 does not arise and for the funds released during 2013-14, most are released by the Centre in the third and fourth quarters of the financial year and due to imposition of Model Code of Conduct during the general elections, actual utilisation of funds got delayed," Tuki said.

However, he said, the state government had been regularly submitting the UCs and making efforts to submit the balance UCs.

Earlier during Question Hour, responding to a similar question raised by BJP member Tage Taki, the Chief Minister said the problem in the state was known to all with hardly a few months of working season due to prolonged monsoon in the state.

"The tendering process takes time, while delay can also be attributed to litigation in some projects," he said adding.

When Taki pointed out that there was no annual operating plan in the state for the last two years, Tuki said, "This year's work has started on the basis of AOP, but the fund flow from the Centre has been delayed."