Srinagar, March 07: The government has addressed concerns regarding outstanding liabilities related to material and labour components in the Community Development (CD) Blocks of Machil, Sogam, and Wavoora.
In response to a question raised by MLA Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj provided details about the liabilities and the mechanism for their clearance.
According to the government response, the total outstanding liabilities on account of the material component in these CD Blocks amount to Rs 4.65 crore. The year-wise unpaid material claims are as follows:
In 2019-20, the liabilities stood at Rs 14.53 lakh, while in 2020-21, it was Rs 2.23 lakh. For the year 2021-22, the amount was Rs 5.58 lakh, and in 2022-23, it increased to Rs 15.65 lakh. The most significant liability was recorded in 2023-24, reaching Rs 427.90 lakh. The total unpaid material claims across the three blocks amount to Rs 465.89 lakh.
However, the government has confirmed that there are no unpaid liabilities for the labour component under the MGNREGA scheme for previous years. The Union Territory administration has ensured timely wage payments, including in Machil, Sogam, and Wavoora blocks.
To address the material liabilities, the government has adopted a structured Panchayat-wise clearance mechanism, giving priority to older liabilities. Regular Utilization Certificates (UCs) are submitted to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, for the release of instalments under the material component. Additionally, the department has issued regular instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to districts to facilitate the clearance of all pending liabilities.
The government’s assurance comes as a relief to stakeholders, ensuring that efforts are being made to resolve outstanding financial obligations and maintain smooth implementation of rural development projects.
