Increase in funds for MWRRA but no increase in works – RTI reply
4 Jun, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has shown that despite continuous rise in the funds for the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA), there has been no expenditure on the works undertaken by the authority.
In the reply to the application, the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority said that it received Rs. 21.41 crore as grants during the period from 2005 to 2013. However, most of the funds were spent on meeting operational costs like office rent, salaries of employees, consultancy charges, etc. The reply showed that during three of the last four years i.e. in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2012-13, no amount was recorded as expenditure under the works head. It was only in 2011-12 that the authority spent the highest amount worth Rs. 10 crore on work expenditure. In the same year, the highest incremental operating cost of Rs 53.01 crore was incurred.
MWRRA, the only water regulatory body in India was constituted to ensure proper distribution of water as well as plan and maintain the water policy of Maharashtra and the funds for its functioning are released by the state as grants. It is alleged that the authority has been working only on determination of tariff and no substantial developmental works have been undertaken.