States must utilise Centre’s funds timely: Manohar Khattar

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, on Saturday instructed that funds allocated by the Central government for urban development must be fully and timely utilised.
Addressing a Regional Conference of Urban Development ministers from Northern and Central States in Bhopal, Khattar stated that better coordination between the state governments and the Centre will ensure the timely completion of every key project. “The vision of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047, as envisaged by PM Narendra Modi, can be realised only through close coordination between the Central and state governments,” he said.
Khattar stated that by 2047, nearly 50 per cent of India’s population is expected to shift into urban areas and therefore, the states need to start working on it.
“Urban development schemes should be planned and implemented in line with this projection to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
He informed that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has decided to hold region-wise review meetings with states to ensure effective implementation of schemes.
Highlighting the diversity of geographical conditions and challenges across States, he said that while the Central government provides support, the primary responsibility for implementation rests with State governments.