CAG Finds Loopholes In PMGSY Implementation In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on general and social sector for the year ending March 2017 and another report for the year 2018, has revealed the failure of the Odisha government in implementing two centrally-sponsored schemes and a state-sponsored scheme.

The CAG report, which was presented in the State Assembly on the last day of the monsoon session, states that out of 18,176 habitations included in the core network of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), road connectivity to 6,048 habitations (33%) had not been given as of March 2017.

“Besides, 121 rural roads under the core network differed from the detailed project report. Due to this mismatch, these were not approved. As a result, the state government lost central assistance of Rs 155.33 crore,” Accountant General of Odisha, Bibhudatta Basantia said during a press briefing here.

He also said that the construction of 441-km roads sanctioned during 2003-2017 could not be completed despite utilization of Rs 53.54 crore as the detailed project report (DPR) did not consider the requirement of land or forest clearance.

The report also said that the state government spent Rs 77.84 crore more under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) by constructing additional 56 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCSs), violating the recommendation of IIT, Kharagpur.

On the administrations of jails, the CAG report has said “The Home department did not submit Utilisation Certificate for the amount of Rs 75 crore received from the 13^thFinance Commission. As a result, the central government did not release the balance amount of Rs 25 crore, which was a loss to the state exchequer.”

It has also said that the “Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Limited constructed 643 staff quarters with excess plinth area causing extra expenditure of Rs 26.76 crore.”

This apart, “Unutilised scheme funds were retained in saving/current accounts instead of flexi accounts in violation of the instruction of the Finance department which resulted in the loss of interest of Rs 15.39 crore,” the report pointed out.

The report found that the failure of the hospital authorities in imparting training to the doctors to use sophisticated equipment has led to the idling of state-of-the-art equipment of Rs 4.49 crore.

It has also observed that “Fraudulent payment of Rs 44.19 lakh was made by the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Puri, from the funds allotted for Nabakalebara festival.”

The CAG report also pointed out that for the construction of saline embankments, the soil was transported from borrow pits situated within 500 metres from the embankments. However, the contractors were paid more money as the distance of transportation shown in the bill was 5 km, resulting in excess payment of Rs 7.37 crore.

The report also revealed misappropriation of Rs 6.13 lakh and doubtful expenditure of Rs 0.58 lakh as the tehsildars did not adhere to the provisions in handling government revenue and maintaining cash books.