Bhopal, Aug 5 (IANS): The Niti Aayog has asked the Madhya Pradesh Planning Commission for utility certificates on the amount spent by the state under the special package allocated for development of Bundelkhand.

Seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and six districts of Madhya Pradesh together make up Bundelkhand, one of the most economically backward areas of the country.

As part of its efforts for the development of the region, the Centre's Congress government in 2008 approved a special package of Rs 7,600 crore, of which Rs 3,860 were meant for Madhya Pradesh. By 2015, the allocation for the state was increased to Rs 2,100 crore.

The fund had to be spent on works related to water resources, agriculture, panchayat and rural welfare, horticulture, forestry, public health, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, skill development and so on.

"Though a major part of the Rs 2,100 fund has been spent, the state government has so far refused to issue utility certificates for the work done or give details of the development there. Only the potable water project has sent a certificate for works done worth Rs 100 crore," said State Congress Secretary Pawan Ghuwara.

It was after Ghuwara complained about five departments not having issued utility certificates for the work done by them that the State Niti Aayog on August 1 asked the Deputy Secretary to provide it with the details.