With just 16.57 per cent of the total allocation under the special Bundelkhand package spent so far in Uttar Pradesh and 21.70 per cent in Madhya Pradesh over two years, the Planning Commission is all set to extend the package. “We have discussed this matter informally. In principle, the Planning Commission has agreed. It is now a matter of procedure since most of the fund is still to be utilised under the package,” said J S Samra, the CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). The NRAA is the nodal agency created under the Planning Commission to release the funds under the Bundelkhand package. According to the NRAA reply to an RTI application by this correspondent, till November 30, 2011, it released Rs 860.973 crore to UP out of a total allocation of Rs 3,606 crore. “But it spent only Rs 280.99 crore. While we have released Rs 1,129.92 crore to MP out of a total allocation of Rs 3,860 crore, it spent only Rs 424.4 crore.” The package was sanctioned in September 2009 and was supposed to be completed by March 31, 2012. According to the figures, the seven districts in the region in UP have so far spent only 16.57 per cent of the total allocation and 32.63 per cent of the fund released. On the other hand, the six districts in the region in MP have spent 21.70 per cent of the allocation and 37.52 per cent of the total fund released. The UP government is yet to demand the second instalment since unless it spends 70 per cent of the first instalment, the second cannot be released as per the rules. Since a lot of fund is yet to be spent and projects are yet to be completed, the extension of the tenure is likely. Interestingly, while the UP officials were sitting on letters and reminders sent by the Planning Commission and NRAA, it was the recent visit of a Plan panel team that prompted the Irrigation department to set up a committee to inquire into alleged irregularities in the construction of Sakrar Check Dam, Patharai Dam, Salarpur Tank and Resin Dam. The committee, headed by Chief Engineer Krishna Kumar, has submitted its report after a survey of design, quality and other things related to the projects. “I wrote at least 15 letters to Chief Secretary of UP during the last two years and some of them were on the ill-implementation of the package, but they were not taking any action. If they were quick, the implementation would have been faster and more transparent,” said Samra.