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Finance Dept floundering
Highlights
Finance Dept Floundering. As per the norms, the signature of the finance minister is must on the files related to the sanction of funds to schemes and release of bills for works in different departments.
Volatility in State hits regular work; Yet, contractors busy thronging it
Vote-on-account likely, but staff unsure if it’ll be for one or both States
Hyderabad: In all probability, the State government will opt for a vote-on-account instead of a full-fledged budget next year. But whether the vote-on-account would be in one State or both the States is yet to be decided. There is no clarity among the finance department staff on the issue.
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The key posts of two Principal Secretaries have been lying vacant for the last two months. Pushpa Subramanyam has moved to Delhi. She was dealing with the budget- making process in a systematic manner. Another Principal Secretary Venkataramani Bhaskar also retired on September 30, and the government is yet to find suitable replacement.
Special Chief Secretary (Finance & Planning) S P Tucker is at present busy sending reports to Group of Ministers (GoM) on financial matters.
Though the officials concerned explained the situation to the finance department to the Chief Minister Office and sought the two appointments, there has been no response so far.
An official in the budget section says, “A preparatory plan is needed three months in advance on how the budget has to be presented. We need guidance from our department head. But the post has been lying vacant and we are left in a confused state as to who should be consulted for clarifications.” This is only one side of the finance department, he said.
On the other hand, the department is flooded with visitors for getting their bills cleared. A majority of them are contractors. T Sridhar, a contractor from Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, was at the department for the approval of a road contract bill. When The Hans India identified him and asked about the purpose of his visit to Secretariat, he declined to give any details on his mission in the Secretariat.
Files of ‘C’ moving at top speed
An official said on condition of anonymity that the presence of contractors is quite a routine in finance department. In normal course, files would be sent by the officials concerned along with documents and utilization certificate. There is no need for a contractor to visit finance department. But, they are seeking to meet section heads to clear their files by fulfilling ‘formalities.’ An official in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation said, “The volatile situation in the state has forced the contractors to get their bills cleared on war-footing.”
2000 files pending with CMO
As per the norms, the signature of the finance minister is must on the files related to the sanction of funds to schemes and release of bills for works in different departments.
Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy is said to be clearing 20-30 files a day, and they mainly relate to financial clearances and sanctions by various heads. Though Anam is busy with his engagements by virtue of being on various Cabinet Sub-committees, yet he finds time to clear the files without any delay.
Sources said, “About 2000 files sent from the finance department are kept pending at CMO”.
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