The long code of conduct of the Lok Sabha elections and then the rainy season have affected the efforts of the state government to increase the pace of development works and expand the infrastructure of basic amenities to remote areas. The steps of the departments to use the budget rapidly in the capital head slowed down this year. In the financial year 2024-25, only Rs 3140 crore could be spent in the capital head till October 15, i.e. even after more than six months. This is much less than the last financial year. In the financial year 2023-24, an amount of Rs 4800 crore was spent in the first half. Now the government is under pressure to spend more than Rs 11 thousand crore in the remaining period of the second half of the financial year. In the financial year 2024-25, a budget provision of Rs 14,857 crore has been made in the capital head for development schemes and construction works of assets. Out of this, an amount of Rs 4479 crore has been allocated to the departments for expenditure. If we look at the figures of budget expenditure, only Rs 3150 crore could be used from the budget allocation in the first half of the current financial year. If the departments are to be believed, the pace of development work remained slow due to the implementation of the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections in the first quarter of the current financial year i.e. from April to June. After the removal of the code of conduct, the rainy season put a halt to the pace of construction work. In the financial year 2023-24, the government had made a record of spending the highest amount of Rs 4800 crore in the first half after the formation of the state. This year, far from breaking this record, relatively less amount could be spent in the capital item.
Expenditure less than last year, more than other years
However, it is also a matter of satisfaction for the state government that even after the election code of conduct and rainy season, in the first half of this year, except last year, the expenditure has been more than the previous years. In the past years, a maximum of Rs 2805 crore could be spent on capital items in the first half. According to the data received from the Accountant General, Rs 1695 crore was spent in the year 2019-20, Rs 1082 crore in the year 2020-21, Rs 2805 crore in the year 2021-22 and Rs 2138 crore in the year 2022-23 on capital items.
Allocated budget is not being spent 100%
The total budget provision for the Rural Development Department is Rs 1632 crore. Out of this, Rs 613 crore was allocated, but the department has been able to spend Rs 565 crore. The department now faces the challenge of spending 100% of the allocated budget. A total budget of Rs 1380 crore has been kept in the last half for the Irrigation Department. Out of this, Rs 547 crore was allocated, Rs 484 crore has been spent. Similarly, a total budget of Rs 1440 crore has been kept for the Public Works Department. Rs 815 crore has been allocated to the department. Till October 15, the department has been able to spend Rs 598 crore.
Urban development, housing, education reduced expenditure
Urban development, housing and school education lagged far behind in using the capital budget. The budget provision for urban development is Rs 774 crore. Rs 201 crore was allocated to the department, out of which only Rs 171 crore could be spent. The total budget provision for the housing department in the financial year is Rs 461 crore. Rs 149 crore was allocated to the department. Rs 128 crore has been spent. The total budget provision for school education in the capital head is Rs 473 crore. Rs 123 crore has been given to the department, the amount spent is Rs 109 crore. Additional Chief Secretary for Finance Anand Bardhan has directed the departments to speed up budget expenditure in the second half of the current financial year.
