Poor Budget Spending Raises Questions Over Odisha CM’s Governance

Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has reasons to be worried. Despite a record-breaking state budget allocation of Rs 3.10 lakh crore, Odisha government has made a poor show so far. This is because Odisha’s inability to spend allocated funds.  Odisha state has spent only 8.8% of its fund so far, thereby exposing the state government’s weakness and slow-paced administration,” say government sources. Reasons for these lapses are many – such as bureaucratic delays, prolonged bidding and tendering processes, lack of trained personnel, need for multiple clearance level and slow speed of action to settle lingering issues. Reportedly, Odisha’s 16 key departments are lagging in spending target. The new rumour is 10 out of 44 departments are not in a position to utilise 60% of their allocated funds so far. Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg has however urged key stakeholders to accelerate government projects. All these shows the BJP-run state government in bad light. Majhi needs to set up a war room to keenly monitor all government projects.