PANAJI
In a major setback, the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has imposed a two-year moratorium on the Goa government from taking up any new tribal welfare projects, citing exhaustion of allocated funds and pending utilisation certificates.
The decision was conveyed during a meeting of the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC), the central body responsible for evaluating and approving tribal welfare proposals. According to official documents, the committee noted that Goa has substantial unspent funds, which now stands diverted for other projects and pending utilisation certificates (UCs), prompting the restriction on fresh project approvals.
As per the data presented, against a total allocation of Rs 8 crore for FY 2025-26, an amount of Rs 5.83 crore has already been approved, while utilisation certificates worth Rs 4.32 crore remain pending, including Rs 2.82 crore that is still unspent. In addition, the State has forwarded fresh proposals amounting to Rs 36.15 crore.
The PAC observed that the continued accumulation of unspent funds reflects inadequate fund utilisation and financial management, leading to the decision to halt new project sanctions for the next two years. The directive has been formally communicated to the State government.
Just before the moratorium, the committee approved a major ongoing project –construction of a higher secondary block at Ashram School in Amone, Poinguinim, Canacona, with a total outlay of Rs 19.67.87 crore. The PAC also allowed the reallocation of unspent balances of Rs 2.82 crore towards this project.
However, fresh proposals submitted by the State, including Rs 19.67 crore for additional works on the school block and Rs 16.47 crore for a hostel block, were not cleared. Instead, the PAC advised Goa to rework its proposals within a ceiling of Rs 10 crore and resubmit them with clearly defined outcomes and deliverables.
Officials indicated that the moratorium is aimed at enforcing financial discipline and ensuring that previously sanctioned funds are fully utilised before new commitments are made.
