Delhi govt to monitor expenditure of depts on quarterly basis

The Delhi government has decided to monitor the expenditure of departments on a quarterly basis, a move intended to expedite implementation of schemes and projects in the national capital.

The finance department will hold the first such review meeting on expenditure of various departments next month.

Principal Secretary (Finance) Renu Sharma has issued an office memorandum to all secretaries and head of departments, asking them to have a mechanism in place for regular review of expenditure at their level.

In the memorandum, Sharma said that a balanced pace of expenditure should be maintained by all departments throughout the financial year to avoid rush to spend in the last quarter and especially during the last month of the financial year.

She said timely utilisation of funds also reflects on the efficient management of projects and schemes.

"Finance department will monitor the expenditure of departments on a quarterly basis. The first such review meeting is scheduled in the second fortnight of July 2018.

"The exact schedule for which will be communicated separately," the office memorandum stated.

It also stated that all secretaries and HODs are advised to have mechanisms in place for regular review of expenditure at their level to evaluate the trend of expenditure especially implementations of government schemes, programmes and projects.

"This will enable early remedial action, if required, to be put in place to achieve targets within stipulated timelines," the principal secretary (finance) said.

Another official said that it has been observed that as the last quarter of a financial year nears, departments rush to spend on schemes and projects and the new move will expedite the pace of projects throughout year.