Bhubaneswar: The State Government has released Rs 3018.66 crore in favour of eight departments for creation of infrastructure under the scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SACI) for the year 2023-24.
According to official sources, the Government of India has approved Rs. 4528 crores for Odisha under Part-I of the scheme ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24. Of which, the Centre has already released the first instalment of Rs 2946.21 crore after deducting Rs 72.61 crore of the special assistance for non-utilized during 2021-22.
However, the Finance Department recently released Rs 3018.66 crore (66.67 percent of the total approved amount) to eight Departments. Highest Rs 1113.62 crore has been released to the Water Resources Department for execution of 18 capital projects while Rs 552.30 crore sanctioned for 24 projects of the Rural Development Department.
Similarly, the State has released Rs 446.18 crore to the Energy department for implementation of 10 projects and Rs 312.02 crore given to Works Department for 15 projects.
The Housing and Urban Development Department got Rs 266.68 crore for execution of a single mega infrastructure project whereas Rs 133.34 crore given for two projects of the Transport Department, Rs 130.97 crore for 11 projects of the Industries Department and Rs 63.55 crore for two projects of Home Department.
The State Government has asked various Departments to expedite utilization of funds allocated under the SACI scheme. The State has already utilized Rs 1582.73 crore of the special Central assistance in execution of 100 projects during the last financial year 2022-23. However, utilization certificate (UC) has been submitted against Rs 955.91 crore. The implementing Departments have been instructed to furnish UC for Rs 626.82 crore.
According to officials, Odisha has achieved 95 percent in integrating State linked schemes with concerned Centrally Sponsored Schemes facilitating data transfers. The Finance Department has submitted a certificate on deposit of central share of interest earned in SNA accounts till March 2023 in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
However, some Departments are yet to complete the exercise. They need to expedite the process. A meeting would be convened at the level of Chief Secretary to review the progress of implementation of sectoral reforms and submission of compliance to concerned line Ministries for availing additional Special Assistance, they said.
The Ministry of Finance had launched the SACI scheme for financial assistance to States for capital investment/expenditure in 2020-21 in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic which gave a very timely boost to capital spending by States.
In view of a higher multiplier effect of capital expenditure and in order to provide a boost to capital spending by States, the scheme continued during the financial year 2023-24 as announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
Under the scheme, special assistance is being provided to the State Governments in the form of 50-year interest free loan up to an overall sum of Rs.1.3 lakh crore during the financial year 2023-24.
The scheme has eight parts, Part-I being the largest with allocation of Rs. 1 lakh crore. This amount has been allocated amongst States in proportion to their share of central taxes & duties as per the award of the 15th Finance Commission. Other parts of the scheme are either linked to reforms or are for sector specific projects.