Morung Express News
Kohima | September 14
The annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India was presented by the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio in the Assembly on September 14. The CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2022, revealed deficiencies in several projects/schemes, including the Kohima Smart City Mission, being implemented in Nagaland.
The Performance Audit of the Kohima Smart City Mission, covering the period from 2016-17 to 2020-21 revealed several deficiencies in implementation of the mission.
It highlighted that out of 61 prioritized projects within the Kohima Smart City Development, only 28 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were completed, with just 8 projects finalized as of October 2021. The delays were attributed to delaying of fund release and mismanagement of resources.
Additionally, the report noted that Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL) did not prioritise core infrastructure elements, lacked feasibility reports, and did not adhere to revenue models as per guiding principles. It led to failures in attracting Public-Private Partnerships and proper project implementation. Poor planning resulted in the wasteful expenditure of Rs 70.75 lakh on water ATMs and water tankers and Rs 85.57 lakh on Multi Utility Ducts.
Furthermore, the report indicated that both the State Government and the Government of India failed to release funding as per schedule, and it revealed issues with financial management, internal controls, and accountability within the management.
PM Kisan scheme
Regarding the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, the report revealed numerous shortcomings, including issues with beneficiary lists, land ownership verification, delay in reporting deaths, and multiple beneficiaries. It also highlighted a shortfall in government releases and the absence of social audits.
Municipal Affairs
In the Municipal Affairs Department, the state government's failure to establish a Modern Abattoir under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) left a facility costing ₹17.15 cr unused for over four years.
Peren & NH39 connectivity
The proposed road connecting Peren district and National Highway -39 remained incomplete for over a decade, leading to a wasteful expenditure of Rs 9.21 cr.
K-oil diversion, excess payments
The report also found that the state government diverted kerosene oil worth Rs 19.56 cr, violating government directives. Excess payments of Rs 7.20 cr were identified in the Agriculture Department, along with excess payments of Rs 20.09 cr in projects under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources and North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NLCPR & NESIDS). Delays in fund release impacted project completion times and instances of incorrect submissions and lack of inspections in NESIDS-funded projects were noted, except for one.
