Naxal-hit C`garh, J`khand lag in utilising central agri-funds

Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh has spent only 48 pc of about Rs 680 crore released to the state under various agricultural schemes during the first 10 months of this fiscal, according to govt data.

New Delhi: Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh has spent only 48 per cent of about Rs 680 crore released to the state under various agricultural schemes during the first 10 months of this fiscal, according to government data.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar said the Centre is implementing around 10 schemes for development of agriculture in the country including Naxal-affected states. "The performance of these schemes is reviewed from the time to time....The deficiencies identified in implementation of these schemes are taken up with the state governments concerned for remedial action," he said. Anwar submitted the data on status of utilisation of funds allocated under these schemes to nine Naxal-affected states -- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. According to the data, Chhattisgarh was allocated Rs 688.24 crore this fiscal. Of this, Rs 680 crore has been disbursed and the state has been able to spend only Rs 326.46 crore till January of 2012-13 financial year. The state has spent only Rs 206.56 crore under flagship Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) out of Rs 480 crore released, while it has used Rs 24.19 crore out of Rs 48.73 crore under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). PTI