PESHAWAR, May 22: The NWFP government recorded massive shortfall in the recovery of abiana during the first nine months of the current financial year, according to sources.

Out of total Rs313 million revenue receipts target under the head of abiana (water rate) for the financial year 2002-03, the province raised around Rs55 million during the first nine months of the current financial year. The revenue raised makes 17.5 per cent of the total annual target, leaving NWFP trailing far behind the annual receipts target.

In a recently made administrative arrangement, the NWFP irrigation and power department has been made responsible to collect abiana from January 1, relieving the provincial Board of Revenue from this responsibility.

The Rs313-million annual receipts target involves around Rs220 million arrears and fresh demand of Rs90 million for the financial year 2002-03.

Against Rs55 million recoveries made during the first nine months, the province had raised Rs92 million in the corresponding period of the last financial year. Whereas, a sum of Rs123 million had been raised in the same period in 2000-01 — over Rs65 million from the recoveries recorded during the current financial year.

Earlier, the BoR was responsible to collect abiana from farmers. Whereas, the role to determine annual target was performed by the irrigation and power department — which was used to set the target by making assessment through its field staff.

The province had missed the last financial year’s abiana target of Rs375 million by a big margin after ending up with total recoveries of Rs152 million at the close of financial year 2001-02.

Apart from the abiana recoveries, the irrigation and power department also recorded shortfall in its over all receipts during the first nine months of the current financial year.

Against the total annual revenue target of Rs335 million, the irrigation department’s receipts stood at Rs62 million by the end of the first nine months.