Accusing the Centre of giving “differential treatment” to TN, CM J. Jayalalithaa called upon Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh to ensure that the first instalment of Rs 138.58 crore towards National Rural Drinking Water Programme is released without further delay.
In a letter to Mr Ramesh, Ms Jayalalithaa said from April 1, 2012, till date, the state has spent Rs 87.45 crore under NRDWP. The ministry’s integrated management information system also showed TN’s expenditure at Rs 50.71 crore as on June 30, 2012.
She said at the state ministers and secretaries conference in May, the minister had pointed out that states should not be held responsible for NRDWP funds released at the fag-end of the earlier financial year resulting in higher ‘opening balance’, and directed the first instalment to be released to eligible states by June 5.
While TN was expecting early release of funds, “your letter of July 4, 2012, has come as a rude shock”, she said, as states with higher opening balance than TN had got substantial amount for 2012-13.