The chief auditor, in his final report, has said that since there are no sufficient records to support expenditure of the amount, the money had to be recovered from the contractors and officers concerned.

The chief auditor has also raised objections to the expenditure made to the tune of Rs 47.07 crore in various works. The auditor has termed the expenditure ‘objectionable’ and has asked the concerned officers to produce records supporting the expenditure.

Here are two examples of misuse of funds that the chief auditor has recorded in his final report. The Palike appointed 16 persons on contract basis to work at the Palike control rooms in 2005-06. They were paid honorarium for their service. The then existing Education and Social Justice Committee of the Palike agreed to provide those appointed with bus passes. Thereafter, they were given monthly financial assistance of Rs 750 towards the passes.

However there was no monthly pass worth Rs 750 for BMTC bus services at that time. The auditor has questioned the grounds on which the amount was fixed. The Palike had spent Rs 96,000 towards bus passes in that year.

The BBMP Education Department conducted an administrative training programme for heads of Palike schools and colleges in 2005-06. Seventy participants were estimated to take part and each were to be provided with stationery materials worth Rs 60. The total sum was to be Rs 4,200. However, the payment voucher showed that Rs 14,280 had been spent on stationery items but there were no records to  support the additional expenditure of Rs 10,080.

Moreover, on the last day of the programme, non-vegetarian food was served to candidates at the cost of Rs 150 per candidate. The auditor’s report has observed that additional expense for non-vegetarian meal was uncalled for.

A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE
Disregarding auditor’s remarks has been a practice with the Palike. The auditor’s report for the year 1964-65 directed the then Bangalore City Corporation to recover funds to the tune of Rs 22.95 crore from those involved in misappropriation. Surprisingly, the Palike has not recovered the amount till date!

As per records given in the auditor’s report for the year 2005-06, the Palike is yet to recover a sum of Rs 114.99 crore, the total amount recommended for recovery in the previous years. In addition, the Palike has not given sufficient records for utilisation of Rs 1,008 crore, which was objected to in the annual audit reports since 1965.