BHUBANESWAR: With restrictions on preparation of district plan for backward region grant fund (BRGF) in view of the model code of conduct in force, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has asked the State Government to submit a consolidated plan proposal for 2008-09 by first week of October. Additional Secretary of MoPR Sudhir Krishna who reviewed utilisation of Central assistance under BRGF at a high-level meeting here today chaired by Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy reportedly told the Government that release of funds for the current financial year depends on submission of district plans and production of utilisation certificates for at least 75 percent of the assistance allocated during the last financial year. The Ministry had released Rs 284 crore in the first phase to the State. It came to the notice of Krishna that utilisation of BRGF assistance is less than 20 percent in several backward districts. Boudh is at the bottom of the list with 14 percent expenditure. Balangir, Keonjhar and Sundargarh are the other districts having dismal performance so far as expenditure of BRGF assistance is concerned. Krishna was told that the expenditure of the Government was more than 75 percent. However, the expenditure format of the State was not acceptable to the Ministry. The expenditure format supplied by the Ministry came only recently and the Panchayati Raj Department has directed the district collectors to ensure that the utilisation of BRGF assistance must adhere to the new format. The State is yet to receive the second tranche of Rs 42 crore BRGF assistance for 2007-08 and Rs 324 crore for 2008-09. The Union Additional Secretary promised release of 90 percent of the current year