Jharkhand development spending has dipped: Official

RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Secretary A.K. Singh Sunday expressed concern over low expenditure on development in the last six months, inviting criticism from a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

“It is a matter of serious concern that only 20 percent of funds meant for development of the state has been spent in the last six months,” Singh told reporters.

Singh’s statement comes at a time when BJP leader and Chief Minister Arjun Munda is busy finalising his team of ministers after he formed the government Sep 11.

Meanwhile, a state BJP leader has objected to Singh’s statement. “Who prevented the chief secretary from expediting development work during the three-and-half-months of President’s Rule. A senior government official should desist from making such a statement,” Ramesh Puskar, a BJP leader, told IANS.

With Munda taking oath, the President’s Rule came to an end after nearly three-and-half months. It was imposed June 1 after the resignation of Shibu Soren as chief minister May 31.