Agartala, March 4:During the second day of the ongoing budget session, the Opposition TIPRA Motha and CPIM voiced criticism against the ruling BJP-IPFT government in Tripura for its failure to utilize 26 percent of the previous budget allocation, as highlighted in the CAG report.
Opposition Leader Animesh Debbarma, citing the CAG report, questioned why the state government could not expend 26 percent of the 2023-24 budget allocation.
He emphasized that this inefficiency not only hampers the development process but also results in a reduction of funds in the present budget, reflecting the shortcomings of the current administration’s planning and execution.
Debbarma further pointed out the financial crisis facing the TTAADC, asserting that had the unutilized funds been allocated to the district council, it could have mitigated the situation.
Moreover, he raised concerns regarding the allocation of workdays under the MGNREGA scheme, noting that only 66 to 67 days of work were provided out of the allotted 100 days.
Additionally, Debbarma highlighted the government’s failure to submit utility certificates, resulting in pending payments for over five months.
Former MP and CPIM MLA Jitendra Chowdhury echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that the receipt and expenditure reflected negative development trends.
He noted that the revised budget for 2023-24 was lower than the budget estimate, indicating the government’s inability to realize and allocate funds effectively.
Referring to the CAG’s public accounts committee reports, Chowdhury revealed that a significant portion of allocated budgets in various departments remained unutilized, ranging from 25 to 35 percent.
He stressed that the government’s lack of proper planning to utilize allocated funds would adversely affect the state’s development and economy.
