Resource crunch is a genuine problem that Bihar faces, but its complex and centralised administrative procedure prevents the utilisation of even available resources. People familiar with the state machinery say in the recent years, more and more power has been concentrated in the hands of the chief minister.‘‘Decentralising and simplifying the decision-making system in the state is necessary. After the formation of Jharkhand, the first step was this, which made development projects faster,’’ says V.S. Dubey, a former chief secretary of Bihar and Jharkhand.On the other hand, a serving bureaucrat of the state illustrated the mind-boggling procedure for clearing any project costing above Rs 25 lakh. ‘‘The department concerned makes a memorandum first. The minister approves it and the file goes to the planning department. Then to the Empowered Committee — which is a misnomer; the committee cannot even announce its own proceedings. After the committee approves a project, it goes to the planning minister, then to the CM, who clears the committee to publish its minutes. Now the file has to go to the CM a second time to be approved for the agenda of the Cabinet — the department minister, department secretary, chief secretary, CM’s secretariat and to the CM. Once the chief minister okays the project to be on the Cabinet’s agenda, it has to come to the CM a third time through all the previous officials as a special memorandum for the Cabinet. Then, the Cabinet approves. Then the department makes a draft for the finance department.it goes on. It is impossible to finish all these before March, when the financial year ends. By this time, if at all we manage to withdraw funds, it cannot be used properly.’’The Empowered Committee was initially meant to decentralise. But instead of decentralising, Bihar saw more centralisation. ‘‘The RJD wanted each decision to be in the hands of its chief, who was the de facto CM, and every project was approved as a personal favour to a region or an MLA,’’ says a former minister.Immediately after its formation from Bihar, Jharkhand simplified its administrative procedures. There, the department concerned can approve projects up to Rs 1 crore and the Empowered Committee can clear funds up to Rs 5 crore, without its ever going to the Cabinet. ‘‘Within six months, roads improved there,’’ says Dubey. Unbundling the decision-making procedure will go a long way in reforming governance in Bihar. And many well-meaning officials in the state are just hoping this will come about now that Central Rule is in place.’’
