The budgetary provision for construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in Uttar Pradesh has been curtailed by almost 9 per cent to about Rs 7,045 crore during 2012-13.
This pertains to the plan and non-plan budgetary provision of the Public Works Department (PWD) tabled in the state Assembly on Thursday.
During 2011-12, the budgetary support was Rs 7,722 crore, an increase of 11 per cent over previous year’s figure of Rs 6,943 crore. During the Mayawati regime, this segemnt of the Budget had always witnessed hike, except 2009-10, when it declined about 9.5 per cent from Rs 6,848 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 6,197 crore. During 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, it stood at Rs 5,965 crore, Rs 6,848 crore, Rs 6,197 crore, Rs 6,943 crore and Rs 7,722 crore respectively.
However, the actual expenditure vis-à-vis budgetary provision has been quite low in all the years. During 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, the expenditure under this head stood at Rs 5,753 crore, Rs 6,428 crore, Rs 5,725 crore, Rs 6,423 crore and Rs 6,383 crore respectively. The PWD portfolio is held by Shivpal Singh Yadav, younger brother of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The PWD is a key ministry and under the Mayawati regime, it was headed by her trusted confidante Naseemuddin Siddiqui.