The central government has withheld funds allocated for police modernization in West Bengal due to the state government's failure to provide utilization certificates (UCs) for previous allocations. This has sparked a political controversy, with accusations of misuse of funds and governance failure leveled against the Mamata Banerjee-led state government.
According to the Home Ministry, West Bengal received only ₹7 crore out of an allocated ₹117 crore for police modernization over the past five years. The reason cited for this drastic reduction in funding is the state government's repeated failure to submit timely UCs and action plans. Utilization Certificates are official documents that verify that the funds disbursed for a particular project have been used for their intended purpose. These certificates are crucial for ensuring accountability and transparency in government spending.
BJP's Information Technology Cell Chief, Amit Malviya, has accused the West Bengal government of misusing ₹120 crore of central funds meant for police modernization schemes over the last five years. He stated that despite repeated appeals and ample central allocations, the state government has failed to implement critical national schemes designed to strengthen law and order. Malviya highlighted the mounting unspent balances, noting that ₹69 crore remained unspent as of April 2022, ₹39 crore as of April 2023, and ₹11 crore as of April 2024. He characterized this as a deliberate governance failure that undermines police capability, public safety, and national security.
The issue of pending UCs is not new to West Bengal. In March 2022, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) presented a report highlighting the non-submission of a staggering 3,94,162 UCs by the TMC government until March 2021. The report pointed out that the Departments of Panchayat and Rural Development, School Education, and Urban Development & Municipal Affairs were the major defaulters. The CAG raised concerns that the pendency in submitting UCs could lead to misappropriation of funds, as it cannot be ascertained whether the grants were used for their intended purposes without these certificates.
In January 2023, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the West Bengal government spent ₹2.29 lakh crores without proper documentation. The petition cited the CAG report, pointing out glaring incongruities and irregularities that suggest a massive financial scam defrauding the public exchequer.
The withholding of funds has triggered strong reactions. The BJP has been vocal in its criticism of the state government, demanding accountability and transparency. BJP leader Indranil Khan was even detained by the police for protesting against the non-submission of UCs. Meanwhile, the state government has accused the central government of not disbursing funds, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claiming that the Centre is not providing funds for schemes like the 100-day work program.
The controversy over the non-submission of utilization certificates and the subsequent withholding of funds has raised serious questions about financial management and governance in West Bengal. The lack of transparency and accountability in the utilization of public funds is a matter of concern, and it remains to be seen how the state government will address these issues and ensure that funds allocated for important public services like police modernization are properly utilized.
