Sharma dismisses UP Tourism Minister's charges

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma today dismissed the charges made by Uttar Pradesh government of not releasing funds to the state for tourism projects saying the state did not submit utilisation certificates mandatory for disbursement.
UP Tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh has earlier said that the centre has not released Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for development of tourism infrastructure in the state.
Sharma maintained that government has not stopped any release of Central Financial Assistance to UP for tourism projects in the state, according to a release.
"UP government did not submit utilisation certificates in time to the Centre which has resulted in not processing the proposals for release of funds because submission of all pending utilisation certificates is a pre-condition for release of Central Financial Assistance as per the General Finance Rules of Finance Ministry," Sharma said in a statement.

Quoting figures, Union Tourism Minister said that in the year 2012-13, 12 projects were sanctioned with an amount of Rs 34.86 crore and Rs 20.12 crore has been released.
Similarly, in the year 2013-14, 26 projects were sanctioned for Rs 130.71 crore out of which Rs 21.64 crore have been released.

"Despite repeated reminders sent to Government of Uttar Pradesh and review meetings, Uttar Pradesh government did not submit utilisation certificates in time and wasted eight months of the current financial year in submitting the pending utilisation certificates, which have been submitted as late as in the month of November, 2014," the statement said.

According to the ministry, UP government submitted the utilisation certificates in November, 2014 and immediately upon receipt of the certificates and based on the projects prioritised and submitted by the state, Tourism Ministry processed pending proposals for sanction and the amount of Rs 4.22 crore has been released till date.
Further clarifying, Sharma pointed out that UP government has surrendered Rs 3.83 crore as unutilised amount during the current financial year because of non-completion and non-utilisation of funds of the projects earlier sanctioned by Government of India.
Referring to Varanasi, he emphasised that in 2012-13 for development of tourism infrastructure at Garhwa Ghat in Varanasi, Rs 4.10 crore was sanctioned and Rs 3.21 crore has been released, but the major amount is still lying unutilised with the state government.

Sharma further clarified that his ministry accords high priority to development of tourism infrastructure in all States and Union Territories including Uttar Pradesh and in respect of the projects submitted by the Uttar Pradesh State Government, sanctions have been issued/are being issued and funds released based on submission of all pending utilisation certificates, adhering to the scheme guidelines.
He also regretted the unfortunate use of unparliamentary language by the Tourism Minister of Uttar Pradesh.