Use RTI to keep tabs on utilisation of funds: Tewari

People should come forward to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act with a view to keeping tabs on the utilisation of development funds, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said today.
Despite receiving central funds, the SAD-BJP government in Punjab does not properly utilise the same for developmental work, he said.
The Centre allocates about Rs 800-1,000 crore for Punjab per annum for programmes such as rural development and the MGNREGA jobs scheme, Tewari said.
"But neither does the state government contribute its share towards the central schemes and nor do Zila Parishads utilise these funds properly. That's why there is no visible development in the state," he said.

"All panchayats and citizens are free to seek the details of development funds from the Zila Parishad," he said.
Tewari, who is the Ludhiana MP, slammed the SAD-BJP combine for Punjab's poor fiscal situation and said that the government should come up with a white paper on the state's economy.

"If no central grant is given to Punjab, the state will face bankruptcy as it is currently unable to pay even the salaries of its employees," he said.
Earlier, Tewari laid the foundation stone for works to upgrade two link roads in the Dakha area of Ludhiana district under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

One of the roads would connect Sohian village with National Highway-95 while the second would link Braich to Dhollan. The two roads would be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 1.06 crore and Rs 6.39 crore, respectively.
Tewari also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh each for the development of Sohian and Dhollan villages.