Paschimanchal funds remain unutilised

In the financial year 2006-2007, Rs 19.90 crore was sanctioned while the amount released was Rs 17.79 crore. Out of that, only Rs 10.94 crore could be utilised. In 2007-2008, Rs 46.39 crore was sanctioned, but Rs 17.79 crore was released, of which Rs 14.82 crore was spent. 8220;Some of the areas are inaccessible. Infrastructure is very poor in those areas,8221; said A B Bhattacharya,

the department8217;s Principal Secretary. The department, in fact, is going ahead with the development of the area, based on an action plan prepared by IIT Kharagpur.

The institute had formed a nine-member committee which had submitted its report in November last year. According to the action plan,

areas marked for improvement included agriculture, transport, health, education, infrastructure, industries and information technology.

The committee gave an estimate of Rs 16,000 crore to be spent in a span of 10 years for the development of the districts.