HARIPUR, July 12: Divers reasons caused an unnecessary delay in completing or commissioning of a number of development schemes during the 2002-3 financial year in the district resulting into the lapse of Rs51.208 million funds.

Official sources told Dawn here on Friday that among various reasons were the late disbursement of funds by the provincial government, procedural delays and alleged mandatory commissions at the scheme executing agencies’ level.

The 200-bed new district headquarters hospital was among the projects, which could not be commissioned or remained incomplete.

Information gleaned from official sources suggested that the district received Rs446.35 million from the provincial government for Khushhal Pakistan Programme (KPP), fire brigade Hattar and urban immovable property (UIP) tax heads, for fiscal year 2002-3 and allocated a sum of Rs284.65 million for ongoing development schemes.

A total break up, of funding, expenses up to June 30, and lapsed or surrendered amount of certain development projects showed that district government was disbursed Rs98.80 under KPP- 111, but it spent Rs84.62 million and allowed to lapse Rs14.17 million.

For Education Sector Reforms programme which entailed allocations for adult literacy centres, introduction of technical stream, revamping science and rehabilitation of schools, Haripur received Rs27.51 million but had to return to the provincial government a hefty amount of Rs5.52 million; for president programme Rs9.45 million was allocated but spent Rs9.15 million and surrendered Rs0.30; for ADP Rs51.56 million expenditure up to June 30 was totalled at Rs27.53 million and surrendered Rs24.02 million; for social action programme Rs4.88 million was earmarked but could only spent Rs4.85 million surrendering Rs0.03 million.

Under the KPP special district was paid Rs4 million for Hattar Industrial Estate Fire Brigade the district government utilized only Rs0.02 million and R3.98 million lapsed.

Likewise the red tap had also delayed the crucial project of the DHQ hospital Haripur for indefinite period. The project was started in January 1995 with a total cost of Rs59.91 million and was inaugurated by the sitting NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani on April 29 when the health department decided to commission its first phase from June 1 this year. But as the equipment and other fixtures could not be purchased despite floating four tenders at quick succession, Rs11.5 million earmarked solely for it had lapsed delaying the project for the next six months.

A source privy to the process, held certain officials involved in planning, estimation, finalizing and implementation of development schemes, responsible for the delay, adding that they deliberately prolong the process of inviting, opening of tenders which resultantly not only caused inflation in construction cost but also deprived the public of certain facilities.

He also accused certain elected local government representatives of pursuing decades old set patterns of accepting commissions and appeasing their favourites.

When contacted for comments District Nazim Dr Raja Aamir Zaman was not available while Tehsil Nazim Iftikhar Ahmad Khan denied having accepted commission in the development schemes.