Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has surrendered more than Rs 842 crore of Central fund for irrigation sector during 2014 to 2020 for non-utilisation.
This was revealed in the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the state’s performance in surface irrigation during the period. The audit covered 24 irrigation and mega lift projects which were completed or partly completed from January 2011 to March 2017.
During the audit from June to September 2019 covering the state’s performance in the sector from April 2014 to March 2019, the CAG checked a completed and four partly completed major projects, nine completed mega lift projects and 10 completed minor irrigation projects. It detected several deficiencies in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the projects.
The CAG also found irregularities such as non-receipt of Central assistance, parking of funds in various banks without utilisation, non-realisation of government revenue and inadmissible payment of tax to the extent of Rs 2,203.84 crore.
The state surrendered total funds of Rs 842.98 crore during the period mainly due to delay in handing over of the sites for the projects by the Irrigation department, obtaining necessary clearances and poor monitoring, Principal Accountant General Bibhudutta Basantia told local media.
