Jharkhand’s Government departments have left more than Rs. 18,000 crores locked in Personal Ledger (PL) accounts for over 15 years, a practice the State Finance Minister described as a mockery of financial discipline. The Government has managed to transfer Rs. 4,500 crores back into the treasury, but officials admit the problem remains much larger and continues to affect development projects.
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Idle Funds Across Key Departments
According to official records, the unutilised funds are spread across several departments, including Urban Development, Minor Irrigation and Rural Engineering Organization. As of 31st March 2024, the Urban Development Department alone accounted for over Rs. 1,902 crores. Ranchi Municipal Corporation held Rs. 208 crores, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Rs. 276 crores, JUDCO Rs. 1,187 crores, while smaller councils in Jamshedpur, Dumka and Palamu also maintained sizeable balances.
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Government’s Stern Warning
Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore said the practice of parking development funds in PL accounts was unacceptable. He warned that departments holding large balances would not be granted new allocations until the existing amounts were fully utilised. “Dumping funds is against financial discipline. Money must flow into projects, not remain idle in accounts,” Kishore said, adding that misuse of funds not only delayed works but undermined governance.
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Long-Standing Issue Under Review
The problem dates back to 2010–11, when earlier finance secretaries, including Amit Khare, had issued directions to use PL account balances in departmental schemes. Despite annual review provisions, the practice of leaving funds untouched has persisted. The State Government has now sought detailed reports from departments and announced that a high-level meeting will soon be convened to enforce stricter compliance.
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