File picture of villagers taking part in a government scheme

Bhubaneswar, May 20: The Odisha government has been able to spend 77.29 per cent of the funds released under its Biju Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) Plan during the past six years, notwithstanding claims of its attaching utmost priority to the development of the backward undivided KBK districts.

Biju KBK Plan, a state-funded regional development scheme, was launched in 2006-07 with stress on developing critical infrastructure such as electricity, roads and water.

Of the Rs 740 crore released to the KBK districts between 2006-07 and 2012-13, the administration has been able to spend Rs 571.92 crore (77.29 per cent) over the period.

The government has spent Rs 37.23 crore (5.03 per cent) on electrification, Rs 175.47 crore (23.71 per cent) on irrigation and drinking water supply, Rs 447.01 crore (60.71 per cent) on road connectivity and Rs 80.29 crore (10.85 per cent) on other projects.

Of 727 electrification projects approved, 623 projects have been taken up and 514 projects completed so far.

However, utilisation certificates worth only Rs 332.05 crore (45 per cent) have been submitted so far, as revealed by the review that chief minister Naveen Patnaik undertook today.

The chief minister directed district collectors to pay special attention to utilisation of funds and submission of utilisation certificates.

It was decided that priority would be given to developing connectivity to all parts of the region to help better delivery of services from health care to public distribution.

Besides, stress will be laid on developing irrigation infrastructure in the drought-prone region.

The emphasis will also be on building smaller irrigation projects and check dams instead of large irrigation projects.

The government has released Rs 60 crore out of Rs 120 crore sanctioned for 2013-14 to various districts. All collectors were requested to submit action plans for the state and district sector schemes separately for the year.

The district collectors of Kandhamal and Gajapati were also asked to expedite utilisation of funds under the Biju Kandhamal and Gajapati Yojana, which is another state-funded regional development programme.