(a) whether Government`s attention has been drawn to the news
report captioned `Funds for Dal Lake vanish` appearing in the
Delhi edition of the Times of India dated February 6th, 2002;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reaction of the Government on the reported embezzlement
of the Central grant given to the State Government of Jammu and
Kashmir for cleaning up the famous Dal Lake; and
(d) the action Government propose to take in the matter ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI GINGEE N. RAMACHANDRAN)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b) to (d): Planning Commission has allocated Rs.102.43 crores
so far for the renovation of Dal Lake. According to Planning
Commission, no utilization certificates have been received so
far. The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has reported that so
far 17 officers have been placed under arrest after investigations
by the State Vigilance Organization. To the extent that funds
released by Government of India get diverted, recoveries are
effected from the State according to Planning Commission
instructions.