Capital Spending in Odisha grows by 49% in 2014-15
Bhubaneswar, May 1: Total capital spending in the State reached an record amount of around Rs11,567 cr. during the fiscal year of 2014-15 thereby marking a growth of 49.14% over the last fiscal year. The total capital expenditure during 2013-14 was around Rs.7756 cr.
This has been discussed in the Secretary Level meeting held under Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati in secretariat conference hall today wherein Additional Chief Secretary Finance Sri R. Balakrishnan presented the updated expenditure position. With this expenditure the capital expenditure and GSDP ratio of the State has significantly increased the level record of 3.72%. While appreciating the efforts of various departments in this regard, Chief Secretary Sri Pati has advised the departments to target for boosting this ration to 4-5% in coming year.
The State Plan expenditure during 2014-15 has also increased to Rs 30345 cr. from the level of Rs.20544 cr during 2013-14. Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Sri Balakrishnan has asked all large spending departments to ensure 60% spending by end of 3rd quarters of the current fiscal year in all non-plan, plan, state plan and centrally sponsored plan schemes.
Chief Secretary has asked the departments to identify more number of PPP schemes targeting to bring in Rs.1000 cr investment in various sectors during current year. Departments have also been directed to ensure online release of allotments to DDOs through Odisha Treasury Portal. Sources say, sharing pattern in 33 centrally sponsored schemes have been changed by Govt of India. In this context, departments implementing these schemes have been advised to get actual sharing pattern of the schemes from the line Ministries and reassess their budget requirement accordingly.
Reviewing the progress in Public service delivery, Chief Secretary has directed the departments to make more number of public services online and link those to common service centers so that people can avail the services by paying nominal fees there and they will not be required to run to Govt offices by covering long distances. Available data shows that till now 89 services have been notified under Public Service Act and more 522 services have been identified by various departments to be included under public service.
Principal Secretary G.A. Sri G.V.V. Sarma, present in the meeting has been asked to examine notification of these services under Public Service Delivery Act. Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed Agriculture department to take up skill based training programmes for identified progressive farmers. It has been targeted to train at least 20,000 such farmers in each year.
Fisheries & animal Resource Development department has also been asked to initiate similar programmes. Earlier Chief Secretary had directed the department to introduce new agricultural technologies through these progressive farmers and undertake field demonstration activities through their active participation. It has also been decided to cover around 50,000 youths under apprenticeship programmes of various industries, corporations and public sector units. MS& ME departments has been asked to initiate actions in this regard.
Development Commissioner Sri U.N. Behera along with Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Special Secretaries of all departments participated in discussions.