The Panel in its report tabled in parliament today also expressed its anguish over the fact that the Ministry's latest annual report did not have any reference to the Lokpal Bill 2011.
Besides, it has also suggested that the Government consider an anti-corruption legislation to cover private persons and bribe givers.
In a detailed explanatory note furnished by the Ministry, it has been stated that for the year 2009-10, plan allocation for the scheme 'Propagation of Right to Information Act was reduced from Rs 14.16 crore to Rs 10.66 crore in Revised Estimates 2009-10 due to slow pace of expenditure, non-receipt of utilisation certificates from some state governments and that unutilised surplus funds of Rs 0.35 crore could not be surrendered in time leading to lapse of funds.
During 2010-11, plan allocation for the scheme was reduced from Rs 19 crore to Rs 11.35 crore in RE 2010-11 for the same reason as also in 2011-12 during which the plan allocation was also reduced from Rs 51.60 crore to Rs 24.60 crore in RE 2011-12.
The Committee took serious note of the fact that the reasons furnished by the Ministry for reducing the expenditure at the RE stage for various plan schemes have remained almost the same during the past three years.
"The Committee wonders why this trend was not noticed and arrested by taking appropriate remedial steps," it said and directed the Ministry to ensure "optimum utilisation of available funds". (MORE)
