Tourism minister refutes charge of non-release of funds to UP

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma said Wednesday the government has not stopped any release of central assistance for developing tourism infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh.

Sharma's clarification came after state Tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh Monday accused the Centre of withholding funds for tourism.

The UP government did not submit utilisation certificates on time. This has resulted in the proposals for release of funds not being processed. Submission of all pending utilisation certificates is a pre-condition for release of central financial assistance, said Sharma in a statement from the ministry of culture.

Quoting figures, Sharma said that in the year 2012-13, 12 projects were sanctioned with an amount of Rs.34.86 crore and Rs.20.12 crore was released.

In the year 2013-14, 26 projects were sanctioned for Rs.130.71 crore out of which Rs. 21.64 crore was released, he added

"Despite repeated reminders sent to the UP government and review meetings, they did not submit utilisation certificates in time and wasted eight months of the current financial year, and have been submitted as late as in the month of November 2014," Sharma said.