Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has written to Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development, seeking the release of the State's share from the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and the "first instalment of Rs.138.58 crore without any further delay."
While Tamil Nadu was expecting an early release of funds, a letter from the Minister dated 4th July, 2012, "came as a rude shock". She pointing out that "some other States which had a higher opening balance than Tamil Nadu and whose expenditure level was almost on par with Tamil Nadu as per the IMIS report, a substantial amount of money has been released during 2012-13 as well."
Jayalalithaa has objected to "such differential treatment and discrimination" against Tamil Nadu and asked if "the release of funds is being done on a purely objective basis."
Jayalalithaa has pointed out that the closing balance of funds under the NRDWP for Tamil Nadu was Rs.243.86 crore at the end of the financial year, which included Rs 58.33 crore in March "as an incentive fund for good performance based on Management Devolution Index."
The Chief Minister also said that an additional allocation of Rs 98.20 crore was received in April based on Tamil Nadu's "good performance" and considering the fact that the State had utilised more than 60% of the available funds under the NRDWP.
Tamil Nadu has spent Rs.87.45 crore in the last three and a half months, under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme. The Ministry had "commended the Tamil Nadu model in accounting and auditing for emulation by other States".
Jairam Ramesh had reportedly made it clear that States should not be held responsible for NRDWP Funds released at the fag-end of the earlier financial year, resulting in higher Opening Balance and directed that the first instalment should be released to all eligible States by the 5th June this year.