Funds Diversion: Centre Serious On Jagan Govt!

The Modi-led BJP government at the Centre admonished the YCP government for diverting Rs 639 crore given by it towards other expenses, without informing it. Not just that, it asked the AP government to immediately deposit the amount in the account concerned and send the related receipt.

The Centre had released over 90 per cent of funds allocated for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, under which houses are constructed for the poor both in rural and urban areas, in all the states. The remaining 10 per cent of the funds should be borne by the states and houses should be constructed for the identified poor.

As part of the scheme, the Centre releases funds every year. In the latest sanction, the Modi-led government reportedly released Rs 1879 crore but the state government used up the funds for various other schemes.

Gaining knowledge about the diversion of the funds, the Centre fumed at the AP government. It took exception to diversion of Rs 639 crore of the total Rs 1,039 crore without at least issuing of a GO. It asked the state to immediately deposit the whole amount to the single nodal account.

The BJP-led Centre sanctioned over Rs 3,084 crore towards the construction of the houses under the scheme. Of this, Rs 1879 crore was released.

Of the funds released by the Centre, Rs 639 crore was diverted for other purpose by the state government. This apart, the Centre also stopped release of funds to the tune of Rs 1,174 crore after the YCP government did not release its share of Rs 221 crore towards the scheme. It is pertinent to note that the Centre grilled the YCP government with regard to the PMAY scheme.