ZP returning two years’ budget amount to govt

Nagpur: The BJP and Shiv Sena alliance had ruled Nagpur zilla parishad (ZP) for seven years between 2012 and 2019. During this period, it failed to spend over Rs80 crore, which is more than its two years’ annual budget. The cash-strapped state government is seeking back all unspent amounts from local bodies.
The chief accounts and finance officer (CAFO) of ZP said that accounting of all departments was being done and the final figure could be higher.
Leaders of the ruling Congress and NCP combine have blamed the past regime for the mess. “The Devendra Fadnavis government introduced the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for social welfare schemes. This is the basic reason for amounts sanctioned for these schemes not being spent. Poor people of Nagpur district suffered due to this hare-brained system,” said Bharti Patil, chairperson of ZP’s finance committee.
A ZP official explained why the DBT scheme failed. “Suppose a poor man wants to buy a photocopy machine for self-employment. Earlier, the government would provide him say Rs60,000, the cost of the machine. After the DBT scheme started, the beneficiary had to first buy the photocopy machine with his own money and then seek reimbursement from the ZP. Most poor people don't have that kind of money and hence they did not benefit from the scheme. Over 80% funds meant for social welfare schemes remained unspent due to DBT,” he said.
ZP vice-president Manohar Kumbhare said, “ZPs get very little funds from the state government. It is a tragedy that such a large amount has to be sent back. The BJP-Sena government failed to spend the funds to the detriment of Nagpur district.”
Figures indicate that ZP miserably failed to spend money meant for the mid-day meal scheme. Over Rs15 crore is being sent back. The education department has failed to spend over Rs17 crore while public works’ unspent amount is over Rs10 crore.