AAP government gives more financial powers to Babus to cut red tapism

NEW DELHI: The AAP government is all set to enhance the financial powers of the departmental heads. The move is aimed at cutting red tape and increasing the efficiency of the bureaucracy. The state government has found that HODs waste hundreds of man-hours to get recurring and routine expenditure cleared by the finance department.

The finance department, which comes under the purview of deputy CM Manish Sisodia, has pointed out that delegation of powers would reduce paper work with regard to routine decisions like printing of visiting cards, purchase of rubber stamps and office seals and stationery.

The government also plans to introduce "double reporting of confidential reports" for accounts functionaries. This is seen as yet another way to improve accountability and bring financial discipline.

Under the new plan, the departmental heads will have the power to sanction up to Rs 10 crore as against the current Rs 5 crore for approval to new projects. However, the condition is that the estimates should be prepared by PWD or government-approved work executing agency.

For recurring expenditure, the HODs will be able to sanction Rs 3 lakh as against present amount of Rs 2 lakh. Administrative secretaries will be able to sanction up to Rs 5 lakh. For repair and annual maintenance works on buildings, the amount has been enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.

The last time financial powers of HODs and administrative secretaries were enhanced goes back to 2011 when the then Sheila Dikshit government enhanced financial powers to make the heads of departments directly responsible for any unwarranted delay in projects and missed deadlines. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit had in 2011 enhanced the financial powers of administrative secretaries and made way for a monitoring mechanism with quarterly reviews by the chief minister. The revamp to expedite project clearance then came in the backdrop of the PMO appointed VK Shunglu committee report which blamed the state for delays in projects for the Commonwealth Games and concerns over losses to the exchequer due to delays and questions over accountability raised by the Central Vigilance Committee and Comptroller and Auditor General from time to time.