Only 29.38% of Development Budget Spent in Seven Months; Drinking Water Department Records Just 4.88% Expenditure. BJP State President Says Development Requires Action, Not Just Announcements.
Ranchi, October 30, 2026: The slow pace of government expenditure on development projects in Jharkhand has raised serious questions about the functioning of the Hemant Soren-led state government. Despite substantial budgetary allocations for development works, only 29.38% of the total plan budget has been spent in the first seven months of the financial year 2026-27. Raising the issue, BJP State President Aditya Sahu launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Hemant Soren and demanded accountability from the government. He questioned why development projects were not being implemented despite the availability of funds and whether the government's responsibility was limited to making announcements.
According to Aditya Sahu, out of the total plan budget of Rs 1,06,200.94 crore, only Rs 31,196.72 crore had been spent as of October 22. This means nearly 70% of the allocated budget remains unspent. He said the figures raise serious concerns about the government's development priorities and administrative efficiency. He demanded that the government explain why such a large amount could not be utilised even after seven months and who should be held responsible for the situation.
The department-wise expenditure figures are even more concerning. The Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has spent only 4.88% of its allocated budget, while the Rural Development Department has utilised 11.59%, the Urban Development Department 15.94%, the Welfare Department 15.69% and the Road Construction Department just 19.79%. Sahu said these departments are directly connected with the basic needs of the common people. Such low expenditure raises serious questions about the actual progress of development activities across the state.
He alleged that people in rural areas continue to struggle with drinking water shortages, damaged roads and inadequate healthcare facilities. At the same time, pending payments to contractors are affecting construction projects. The delay in payments is also creating financial difficulties for workers employed in these projects, threatening their livelihoods. He questioned why the government was failing to ensure that allocated development funds reached the people through timely implementation of projects.
The BJP State President also criticised delays in the tendering process for construction projects. He claimed that several tenders have remained pending for periods ranging from six months to one-and-a-half years. The government has now directed departments to complete tender procedures within 60 days. Sahu questioned why accountability had not been fixed for officials responsible for such delays. He also pointed out that the Finance Minister himself had expressed concern over the slow pace of budget expenditure and written a letter to the Development Commissioner, directing departments to accelerate spending.
Aditya Sahu directly questioned Chief Minister Hemant Soren, asking whether merely presenting a budget was enough to fulfil the government's responsibility towards development. He demanded that the government publicly disclose department-wise expenditure figures, fix accountability for departments with poor spending records and immediately clear pending tenders and contractor payments. He said the people of Jharkhand need tangible improvements in roads, drinking water, healthcare and employment rather than development claims and announcements. The government must explain why funds allocated for development are not being spent on time and when people will actually benefit from the promised schemes.
