Assam Government seeks status reports and utilization certificates

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Finance department has directed the local bodies (LBs) to submit the status reports on various works carried out from 2015 to 2020, and also sought the UCs (Utilization Certificates) of those projects.

The decision in this regard was taken at a recent meeting presided over by the State Chief Secretary, who is also the Chairman of the High Level Monitoring Committee on the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions.

The 14th Finance Commission had recommended Rs 6,387.11 crore as 'Grant-in Aid' to the LBs across Assam. The amount was to be utilized during 2015-20. Against this recommendation, the Ministry of Finance released Rs 5,782.70 crore; of which, the State Finance Department released Rs 5,472.10 crore to various local bodies.

Moreover at the fag end of 2019-20, the Centre further sanctioned Rs 310.60 crore for the State ULBs (Urban Local Bodies). However due to time constraints, the State government could not release this amount at that time. Sources have informed that this amount will be released in the present fiscal.

As per the guidelines of Finance Ministry, Central funds should be transferred only to the elected local bodies which include the panchayats and municipalities.

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