TOURISM MINISTER DENIES WITHHOLDING UP FUNDS

Commenting upon the statement given by Om Prakash Singh, Tourism Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has observed that the Government of India has not stopped any release of Central Financial Assistance to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the development of tourism infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh.
The Union Tourism Minister has emphasised that the Uttar Pradesh Government did not submit the required utilisation certificates in time, which resulted in the non-processing of proposals for the release of funds. Submission of all pending utilisation certificates is a pre-condition for the release of Central Financial Assistance as per GFRs of the Ministry of Finance.
Quoting figures, the Union Tourism Minister said that, in the year 2012-13, 12 projects were sanctioned with an amount of Rs. 34.86 crores and Rs. 20.12 crores has been released. Similarly, in the year 2013-14, 26 projects were sanctioned for Rs. 130.71 crores out of which Rs. 21.64 crores have been released. Despite review meetings and repeated reminders sent to the State, they did not submit the utilisation certificates in time and wasted eight months of the current financial year in submitting the pending documentation.
Upon submission in November 2014, the Ministry of Tourism processed the pending proposals for sanction and the amount of Rs.4.22 crores has been released till date.
Further clarifying, Union Tourism Minister pointed out that the Government of Uttar Pradesh has surrendered Rs.3.83 crores as unutilised amount during the current financial year because of non-completion and non-utilisation of funds of the projects earlier sanctioned by Government of India.
Referring to Varanasi, Union Tourism Minister emphasised that, in the year 2012-13, for the development of tourism infrastructure at Garhwa Ghat in Varanasi, Rs. 4.10 crores was sanctioned and Rs. 3.21 crore has been released, but the major amount is still lying unutilised with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The Minister further clarified that the Ministry of Tourism accords high priority to the development of tourism infrastructure in all states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, and in respect of the projects submitted by the state Government, sanctions have been issued/are being issued and funds released based on submission of all pending utilisation certificates, adhering to the scheme guidelines.