BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik , who is in New Delhi, on Monday said it is a matter of grave concern that Odisha is yet to receive Rs 6,400 crore central funds due to the state in the current financial year.“Hardly a month is left for the financial year to end, but the Centre is yet to release Rs 6,400 crore,” Naveen said referring to the funds pending under various schemes for the year 2018-19, which ends on March 31.On the second day of his two-day visit to the national capital, Naveen said funds pertaining to agriculture, housing, rural development, health, education, women and child development, roads, irrigation and drinking water are still pending for release. “More than Rs 1,000 crore for housing, Rs 375 crore in health, Rs 400 crore under MGNREGA and over Rs 650 crore under agriculture are yet to be released by the Union government,” he added.The chief minister, who has often accused the Centre of neglecting Odisha, said while Odisha government is spending more than Rs 3,000 crore on drinking water from the state budget, the Centre has allocated a meagre Rs 180 crore to it, of which they have released just about Rs 80 crore. Similarly, under the Smart City Poverty Alleviation programme, out of the Rs 200 crore promised, the state has received only Rs 6 crore till date, he added.Official sources said Naveen asked the officials to closely monitor and follow up with the various central departments to ensure the release of maximum amount due to the state by February.Countering Naveen’s charges, Union petroleum minister and state BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said the release of central funds is subject to the submission of utilization certificates, which the Odisha CM has failed to do. “The central share of funds in a central scheme can’t be availed of till the state government submits utilization certificates. If the government has not received funds despite the submission of utilization certificates, the officials should apprise me of it. I will ensure that the funds are released,” Dharmendra said.Hitting out at Naveen, the Union minister said he is raising the funds issue to hide his own incompetence. “The Narendra Modi-led government will never compromise with Odisha’s rights and interests,” he added.

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