Austerity on; 5 months after Budget approval, J&K Admin okays 50% District Capex

Srinagar: Government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday accorded sanction to the release of 50 per cent funds under District Capex (Regular Component) in favour of all district development commissioners in respect of the ongoing works/non construction activities to be completed during the current financial year.

In an order, the government said that sanction is being accorded to the release of 50 per cent funds under the district capex budget.

“Due attention shall be paid to the implementation of schemes funded under CSS/PMDP/NABARD etc. which are shared on 90:10 basis after checking availability of funds subsequent to which matching share shall be provided and should be the first priority. However, the utilization of funds so released shall be subject to the following conditions,” the order states.

The order states that no new schemes to be initiated till expenditure restrictions are withdrawn and only after prior concurrence of the Finance Department.

“There shall be no expenditure on vehicles and furniture without specific permission from the Finance Department. The ODCs/Controlling Officers/ADS shall release funds in respect of those ongoing works’ non-construction activities to be completed during the current financial year or at the most during next financial year.”

As per the order the DDC/Controlling Officers/AOS, before authorizing funds through BEAMS shall ensure that the ongoing work/non-construction activity has been initiated after following due e-tendering procedures and AA/S is in place.

“In no case the funds shall be released to clear any past liability and the same, if any shall be referred to the Finance Department for appropriate action. However, bills that could not be presented during the last fortnight of March, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, can be accommodated suitably in the work programme this year and bills drawn as per procedure laid down.”

The order further stated that treasury officers shall ensure that all the codal formalities have been fulfilled and all the documents viz AA/T5, e-tendering etc. are in place while entertaining the bills through the “PaySys’ besides the before, during and after completion photographs of the work.

“The funds so authorized shall be utilized by the concerned authority only for the specified purpose after observing all pre-requisite formalities as required under rules. The execution of works shall be taken up strictly for the approved activities only within the approved cost and no liability shall be created ensuring financial discipline in the system. The DDC/ Controlling Officers shall be personally responsible for any liability created on account of un-approved/un-authorized works.”

The order also stated that all works/schemes must be supported with technically vetted DPRs and must be prepared by the executing agencies in close consultation with the user agency

“The projects/schemes shall be executed and completed strictly within the timeline as stipulated in the tender document and as fixed by the Competent Authority. The departments shall ensure that the expenditure against the authorized funds are made in stipulated time frame.”

As per the order the ban on engagement of casual workers, need based workers, etc. shall continue to be in force. “There shall be no expenditure on Revenue or Revenue-like components out of the District Capex Budget. The expenditure shall be debited to the appropriate Head of Account as provided in the Demand for Grants and available on the BEAMS portal.”

The order also stated that the executing agencies while preferring bills to Treasuries shall invariably ensure photographic evidence of all works pre, during and post execution along with latitude-longitude coordinates/geo-tagging of the project location for its uploading into system as devised for the purpose

“Executing agencies shall comply with standing guidelines/ instructions on lockdown measures in the UT of J&K.”

The order further stated that the funds shall not be utilized for the schemes/projects approved for funding through JKIDFC under languishing project scheme and these projects/schemes stand deemed to be excluded from Capex Budget.

—(This is a KNO-generated news item. Headline is modified by Ziraat Times)