The Centre today virtually blamed state governments for delay in utilisation of funds meant for multi-sectoral development programmes being implemented for the welfare of minority communities.
Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that as on September 30, an amount of Rs 2427.44 crore remains under various stages of utilisation with various state governments under the scheme of multi-sectoral development programme.
"The reasons, in general, are delay in transfer of funds to the implementing agencies by the state and delay in deciding executing agencies by the state governments," he said in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister also pointed out that non-availability of land for some of the projects and delay in reporting of utilisation certificates by states and Union Territories are other reasons for the lack of utilisation of funds.
