Patna, July 12: The state urban development department has allotted over Rs 66 crore for executing projects under Mukhyamantri Shehri Samekit Vikas Yojana (MSSVY) this fiscal despite only 34 per cent utilisation of funds in the past three years under the scheme.

Sources said the urban development department, through a circular dated July 11, 2011, has allotted Rs 58,03,87,000 for general category regions and Rs 8,78,62,500 for tribal sub-plan regions. Altogether, Rs 66,82,50,000 has been allotted among 138 urban local bodies across the 38 districts of the state.

Earlier, against a whopping sum of Rs 700 crore allotted under this scheme from 2008-09 to 2010-11, merely Rs 239.42 crore was utilised in the state. It reflects the poor rate of implementation of projects.

The Telegraph asked the bosses in the urban development department about the reason behind this tardy state of implementation of MSVVY. Special secretary of the department Chandra Nath Jha claimed that higher utilisation of funds under this scheme but refused to provide the updated data of the department itself.

“I believe that the 34 per cent utilisation of funds under this scheme is an understated claim but I am not in a position to give the exact status as of today. Moreover, we are working to expedite the work under this scheme across the state,” said Jha.

MSSVY, a flagship scheme of Nitish Kumar, was implemented in financial year 2008-09 through circular number 2,375 dated May 12, 2008, issued by the urban development department with a proposed plan fund of Rs 100 crore, which was raised to Rs 200 crore.

The scheme aims at developing infrastructure of the cities and beautify them. Seventy-five per cent of the funds should be spent on construction of roads and drains, while the rest has to be spent on development and beautification of civic amenities, including streetlights, parks, lakes, ponds and other water bodies.

The scheme covers 138 urban local bodies in 38 districts of the state. In the financial year 2009-10, Rs 350 crore was allotted to them and another Rs 150 crore was allotted in 2010-11 under MSSVY.

Earlier, Anil Kumar, the deputy development commissioner of Patna district, ‘ had disclosed the current status of MSSVY in 11 urban local bodies in Patna district, including that of Patna Municipal Corporation.

“Funds worth Rs 42.29 crore was given administrative approval in the financial year 2008-09 and Rs 40.27 crore was finally allotted to Patna District Urban Development Authority. Rs 38.27 crore was utilised for completion of the 169 projects undertaken that year,” he said.