Only 22% funds utilised in six Housing Ministry schemes

2,480.43 crore— only 28.74% of the total amount allocated. The committee, in its report, noted, with dismay, “that the data regarding sewage treatment plants is not being maintained under AMRUT”. “Moreover, the futility of lakhs of toilets being constructed without proper provision for septage, sewerage and drainage is too glaring a question mark on the mission,” the report said.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the government utilised only Rs 2,223.22 crore, or 38.01%, against Rs 5,847.92 crore released under the scheme. In the case of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the state spent Rs 2,080.52 crore, which was only 20.78% of the total funds released. Similarly, for the Smart Cities Mission, the utilisation stood at Rs 182.62 crore, or a meagre1.83% of the total Rs 9,943.22 crore. The HRIDAY scheme, which is aimed at preserving and revitalising the soul and unique character of heritage cities in the country, was launched on 21 January 2015, with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore. The scheme is being implemented in 12 identified cities of Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal. Against an allocation of Rs 150 crore made in 2016-17, Rs 141.55 crore was released for projects under the scheme. But only 54.3% of funds were released till December 2017.

However, the utilisation of funds under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission ( NULM) was better. The scheme, which focuses on organising the urban poor into self help groups and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy and subsidised credit, utilised Rs 293.62 crore out of Rs 299 crore allocated in 2016-2017. Similarly, out of Rs 349 crore allocated to the implementation of the scheme in 201718, 95.81% was utilised till December 2017.