Delhi govt spent only 8% of funds to control pollution

In total, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has spent only 24% of the budgetary funds for development of the national capital in the last six months. While presenting the budget for 2016-17, the government had earmarked Rs 20,600 crore under the Plan expenditure. However, it has spent only Rs 4,580 crore in six months.

Speaking to this newspaper, BJP’s Vijendra Gupta said the Kejriwal government has no time to think about Delhi. “The government has no plan, no vision. They are not doing anything. They are not spending even the money which is earmarked in the budget. What else can you expect from them?” he said.

When contacted, Nagendra Sharma, media advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, refused to comment on the issue.

During the last six months, the government has spent only Rs 22.86 crore towards electricity although there is a provision of Rs 386 crore under this head. This is just 3.33%. Similarly, water supply and sanitation department was allocated Rs 1,976 crore in the budget, out of which only Rs 22.86 crore has been spent, which is a meagre 17.24%.

The figures have been provided by the Delhi government in a communication to the Leader of Oppostion Vijender Gupta.

Underlining the need to address the issue of shortage of housing in Delhi, the government had announced cheap housing for the poor for which Rs 300 crore was allotted. However, only Rs 14 crore has been spent in six months, which is about 5%.

Similar is the case with health services for which Rs 2,725 crore was earmarked. But the government has been able to spend only 24%. It is to be noted that Delhiites suffered a lot due to chikungunya, dengue and malaria.

In the field of technical education, the government spent only about 17% of Rs 388 crore allotted for it. An amount of Rs 4,155 crore was sanctioned for the general education department but the government spent Rs 1,006 crore. Similarly, the government has spent only 5% towards the development of SCs, STs and backwards classes against a budget of Rs 380 crore.

From the Rs 377 crore reserved for nutrition of the poor, only 12% has been spent. The government had made a provision of Rs 7 crore for agriculture and related services, but only Rs 69 lakhs was spent in the last six months.