HYDERABAD, June 25: The utilization of Rs141 million for development schemes of Rs1.3 million in each union council is in jeopardy after refusal of the Sindh finance department to allow transfer of the funds to non- lapsable account of the district government from the lapsable one.

This correspondent learnt this through reliable sources on Friday.

A source said that hopes regarding utilisation of Rs141 million of the Annual Development Programme seemed to have been dashed as the finance department had said that the funds could not be transferred to the non-lapsable account before June 30.

This has created resentment and unrest among elected representatives, particularly union council nazims, who say that they are facing the same situation that they had witnessed last year when funds had lapsed because of not being utilised.

The amount of Rs141 million was to be utilised for Rs1.3 million development schemes in each UC according to an announcement of district nazim at district council session last year.

EDO, finance and planning, Sikandar Shah, held a meeting with the provincial finance department officials in Karachi on Thursday to obtain permission to transfer the funds.

He had to approach the finance department after the additional district accounts officer (ADAO) had refused to transfer the funds to the non-lapsable account on the ground that the amount had already been utilised for development schemes in each UC in the last more than 11 months.

The finance and planning section officials had tried to seek transfer of funds from the lapsable account to the accounts of union councils under section 109(2) of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001 so that development works could be executed by the district government and funds could be paid through UC accounts.

On Friday District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman and DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed are reported to have discussed the ways to save the amount from being lapsed.

Some UC Nazims held a meeting with the district nazim who assured them that they would get the funds.

Meanwhile, the UC nazims are thinking about resorting to protest and they may hold an informal meeting on Saturday or Monday to devise a strategy. "This is an injustice with the district that funds are being lapsed again and we are unable to utilise them," said a dejected UC nazim.

Reports said that a formal approval of development works had been given by the District Development Working Party and an administrative approval by District Officer, planning, Juman Shah, yet notices inviting tenders have not been issued.

The district council members have accused the district government of negligence and the officials concerned of slackness.

Last year, after the ADP funds of Rs141 million lapsed, the members had to resort to protest to seek funds.

The district nazim had announced at a district council session that he had asked officials to complete necessary formalities and as soon as Rs141 million were re-appropriated, contractors would be given orders to initiate works.

A source said that he had made the announcement because he was in touch with the Sindh government to ensure re-appropriation of funds.