PANAJI
The State government on Thursday entrusted greater administrative and financial powers to heads of departments and the ministers concerned in a bid to cut red-tape and delays in executing development works.
An order issued by the State government has devolved powers to the Chief Engineers who head the Public Works Department, Water Resources Department and Electricity Department besides other department heads to clear small budget projects.
Heads of Departments, the order said, will now have powers to sanction works of up to Rs 15 lakh and for works up to Rs 25 lakh, prior approval of the respective minister will suffice.
“All the individual works costing up to Rs 15 lakh may be sanctioned within the administrative and financial powers to be exercised by the Principal Chief Engineer (PWD) / Chief Electrical Engineer / Chief Engineer (WRD) / Head of Department concerned,” the order issued by Pranay Bhat, Under Secretary (Finance) said.
For works beyond Rs 15 lakh and up to Rs 25 lakh, these may be sanctioned with prior approval of the Minister concerned, Bhat said in the order.
The order however fixed a ceiling of Rs 300 crore or the budgetary allocation, whichever is lower, for the aggregate works so sanctioned in a financial year.
Work which is being taken up in excess of the ceiling limit shall mandatorily require approval of Finance Department, Bhat’s order said.
