CAG Report Tabled: Several anomalies detected

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 15

The Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India report, tabled on the concluding day of the 5th Session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, as usual has detected several anomalies.

Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio tabled the State Finances Audit Report of the Comptroller & Auditor general of India for the year ended 31st March 2018 (Report No.1 of the year 2019) and Social, Economic, Revenue and General Sectors for the year  ended 31st March 2-018 (Report No 2. of 2019) on February 15.

 

The second report contains 3 performance audits – one under social and two under economic sector, and 14 compliance audit paragraph, the executive summary informed.  

On social sector, the performance audit of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), implemented in 2010 in Nagaland, show several anomalies.

For instance, out of 11 girls’ hostel sanctioned by the Government of India for construction during 2012-13, none were operational.   Again, out of 168 schools approved for upgradation and construction of new building, only 113 were completed. 

It further noted that out of 391 Special Education Teachers appointed, only 360 were found genuine while out of 3695 students designated as “Children with special needs,” only 640 were eligible for benefits under Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary stage. 
 

Meanwhile, the performance audit of implementation of North Eastern Council (NEC) funded projects for the period covering 2013-18 also showed some interesting results. 

While the state government did not contribute its matching share of Rs 8.96 crore for 34 projects test-checked, seven departments were found to have irregularly incurred Rs 13.19 crore in contravention of NEC guidelines.

 
The Nodal department submitted incorrect utilization certificates for Rs 49.20 crore before the funds were actually released by the State Government, the report pointed out. 

In addition, the implementing departments paid Rs 44.29 crore without actual execution of works.

In implementation of projects through NABARD from 2013-18, the CAG report also stated that the state government failed to matched its share of Rs 22.99 crore. Departmental Charges of Rs 9.75 crore was irregularly deducted by nodal department in contravention of NABARD terms and conditions, it said. 

Loans were also obtained without assessing financial viability and a payment of Rs 8.29 crore was without actual execution of works or shorts execution of item of works in 29 projects. 

In compliance audit paragraph, the CAG report highlighted that the department of Soil and Water misappropriated Rs 3.59 crore out of Rs 3.74 crore released for implementation of Flood Management Programme in Kohima and Phek Districts. 

Officers of four district rural Developments offices did not observe the provision of financial rules to public purchase which resulted in fraudulent payment of Rs 6.21 crore besides depriving job card holder the benefit of work sites amenities. 

The technical personnel in charge of Block Development offices recorded fictitious entries in measurement of books and payments amounting to Rs 14.68 were made without actual execution of works in contravention of MGNEREGA guidelines.

The Department of Power also paid Rs 8.88 crore in excess over actual cost of transformer while two executive engineers of Public Works Department (Road and Bridges) paid Rs 18.98 crore to contractors without execution of works. 

A divisional forest officer, Wokha paid Rs 54 lakh without ensuring execution of works, the report said.

 
 In general sector, among others, 10,117 regular (or 43% ) of Government Servant appointed after January 1, 2010 in the state is yet to be registered in the National Securities Depository Limited and has not been allotted Permanent.