Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 20
The Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) relating to the Government of Nagaland for the year ended March 31, 2017 (Report on State Finances, Report on Social, Economic, Revenue and General Sectors) was laid on the table of the second session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday.
The report arranged in six chapters was prepared on the basis of Finance and Appropriation Accounts and Audit of the State Government departments and state-owned companies and corporations.
As usual, the latest CAG report detected several irregularities, shortcomings in several departments on social, economic, revenue and general sectors. Here are some of the highlights as contained in the executive summary of the report.
Social Sector –National Rural Drinking Water Programme
The State could not achieve coverage as targeted in the strategic plan of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India. Implemented by the Public Health Engineering Department, only 4.91% households had piped water supply connections within its premises in the state.
The district laboratories of Dimapur, Kohima and Tuensang significantly failed in carrying out the prescribed number of bacteriological and chemical contamination tests to ensure the supply of safe drinking water. Extend of bacteriological and chemical contamination very high in the three districts. Economic Sector-Utilization of grants under Article 275 (1) The planning and Coordination Department did not prepare Annual Action Plan indicating sector-wise allocation for utilization of the grants during 2012-16.
Works related to all the 180 projects/schemes were awarded directly to the applicants whose project/schemes were taken up for implementation without calling for tenders.
The department paid Rs 20.23 crore for 13 unverifiable works, six doubtful execution of projects and nine short executed projects.
Border Area Development Programme
The baseline survey conducted by the department did not bring out quantifiable gaps in social and physical infrastructure and therefore did not provide decisive inputs in preparation of Annual Action Plan.
Allocation of funds indicated a disproportionate emphasis on infrastructure and other sectors like Education, Health, Agriculture and Social were given minimal shares.
Payments amounting to Rs 15.95 crore without execution of works, short execution incomplete and abandonment of works were noticed.
Fisheries Department
The department did not have a perspective long-term plan for the development of fisheries in the state.
Utilization certificates for an amount of Rs 12.70 crore were furnished even before the funds were released by the State Government. The department paid Rs 3.98 crore for 7 un-executed projects and Rs 16.37 crore for 6 short executed projects.
An expenditure of Rs 2.78 crore made on a single project twice which was ultimately abandoned.
There was a shortfall in production of fingerlings by 471.93 lakh (94.40%) during the last five years which may have impacted the introduction of economically improved fish species in the state.
Revenue Sector
Sixteen dealers under the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, Dimapur concealed inter-state purchases of Rs 77.56 crore and evaded tax of Rs 11.47 crore.
The Assessing Authority under the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, Dimapur failed to exercise the prescribed checks resulting in concealment of purchases for Rs 5.71 crore, irregular exemption of taxable purchase of Rs 28. 60 crore and evasion of tax of Rs 1.66 crore.
General Sector
The Department of School Education incurred an avoidable expenditure of Rs 10.73 crore due to delay in handing over the project site. The department also extended under financial benefit of Rs 7.37 crore to the contractor on enhancement of rate for newly incorporated items of works not approved by the government.
Failure of the drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) of seven departments and treasury officers in exercising prescribed checks resulted in fraudulent drawal of Rs 1.72 crore.
The Directorate of Technical Education diverted Rs 56.12 lakh from the funds for scholarship schemes for private use. An amount of Rs 51.87 lakh was also suspected to be misappropriated as there was no record for utilization of this amount.
The Urban Development Department abandoned the construction of burial and cremation ground at Kohima after incurring an expenditure of Rs 1.62 crore.
