Facing criticism from the opposition Congress and other quarters about the management of the Chief Minister’s relief fund, the Uttarakhand government has decided to make the transactions in the fund transparent. The state government spokesman Madan Kaushik said that a finance officer has been appointed by the Government to ensure more transparency in the fund which is at the discretion of the CM of Uttarakhand.
He informed that donations amounting to Rs 154.56 Crore were received in the Chief Minister’s relief fund from March 15 to June 15, 2020 during the period of Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to the donation, the state government has made provision of Rs 100 Crore for the fund. The Minister said that a sum of Rs 85. 60 crore was spent on various activities related to Covid-19.
It included a sum of Rs 25 Crore provided to the Director General (DG) state health services, Rs 6.5 Crore provided to DM of Dehradun, Rs 5.5 Crore to DM of Udham Singh Nagar, Rs 4.5 Crore to Haridwar and Rs 4 crore each to Nainital and Pithoragarh.
Remaining districts were also provided money from the fund to manage anti Covid-19 operations, arrangement of quarantine facilities and other activities. He added that the fund now has Rs 173 Crore as balance.
The minister attacked the Congress party for raising questions on the management of the fund. “We are maintaining total transparency in the management of the CM’s relief fund. I hope that the good sense would now prevail on the Congress leaders who have not contributed anything in the fund,’’ he said.
