Finance dept to scrutinise Central funds in meet at Nabanna

Kolkata: The state Finance department has called an emergency meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday, to take stock of scheme-wise receipt of Central funds, expenditure thereof and utilisation status with each of the departments.

It may be mentioned that as many as 31 departments have been asked to attend the meeting and the time of the meeting with each of the departments has been communicated well in advance.

The departments have been urged to depute nodal officers in charge of these schemes, along with their respective financial advisers, for the meeting. The meeting will also take into account the state share released for several schemes, as there are a number of schemes which function with both state and Central funds.

The special meeting will be held from 11 am to 5 pm and the departments that have been asked to be present in the meeting, include Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing, Animal Resources Development, Fisheries, Forest, Cooperation, Consumer Affairs, Tribal Development, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Irrigation, Home, Food and Food Supplies, Minority, School Education, Higher Education, Land and Land Reforms, Labour, Housing, Sports, PWD, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, among others.

"The financial year is also coming to an end and the departments have been directed to prepare a detailed account about the total fund received, the amount spent, what remains unutilised in the last three months, as well as the balance fund expected by the end of this fiscal," a senior official of the Finance department said.

It may be mentioned that on February 6, state Chief Secretary Malay De had held a meeting with various departments, to take stock of the status of work of the Centre-sponsored schemes under them and the account of funds. Discussions were held on the amount of fund utilised till December 31 and the estimated unspent amount.

According to sources in Nabanna, the report will give a clear picture about the allocation of less amount of funds by the Centre, which in turn will help in campaigning against the BJP, ahead of the upcoming panchayat polls in the state.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have on several occasions, slammed the Centre for reducing the share of their fully-sponsored schemes, as well as withdrawing a few schemes.