JOIN USCAG report on Delhi tabled
The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the state of NCT of Delhi finances for the year ended 31 March, 2011, was tabled in Delhi Assembly by chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday.
The report concluded that the fiscal position of Delhi viewed in terms of key parameters — revenue surplus, fiscal deficit and primary deficit — has shown that revenue surplus increased by Rs 4091.90 crore during 2010-11 over the previous year.
Whereas fiscal deficit and primary deficit have turned in surplus by Rs 729.60 crore and Rs 3,309.12 crore during 2010-11 over the previous year.
“These trends may be viewed in light of the fact that capital expenditure has decreased by Rs 732.47 crore (15.53 per cent) in 2010-11 over the previous year. About 83 per cent of the total revenue receipts during 2009-10 was contributed by Delhi's own resources,” said the report.
It added that the recovery of interest receipts as per cent to outstanding loans and advances disbursed by Delhi remained inadequate to cover the cost of borrowings from 2006 to 2011.
It also been pointed out that the average return on government investment was a meagre 0.35 per cent in the last three years, while the government paid, on an average, an interest rate of 9.51 per cent on its borrowings.
The Audit of Appropriation Accounts by the CAG has revealed that there was a saving of Rs 2,036.50 crore from the proposed expenditure of Rs 27,599.67 crore.
“While framing the estimates, the department should take into account the past performance, stages of formulation or implementation of various schemes, and institutional capacity of implementing agencies with the objective of minimising the scope for surrenders at a later stage,” said the report.
It highlighted that there were savings exceeding over Rs 5 crore in 93 cases. The savings were result of under-utilising a subsidy of Rs 168 crore meant for domestic LPG, less release of grant to MCD for municipal reforms and slow progress of development work in unauthorised colonies.
“A provision of Rs 100 crore was made for Ordinary Pensions. But the entire amount remained unspent. A provision of Rs 80 crore for a power plant in Jhajjar also remained unused,” said the report.
The report also says the department of trade and taxes reported 1,843 cases of tax evasion involving discrepancies in stock figures and cash figures of Rs 59.76 crore.
Govt depts fare poorly
The CAG report conducted performance audit to evaluate the effectiveness of government departments and found several of them wanting, reports DHNS.
Consumer affairs dept
According to the performance audit of this department, only 1.01 lakh Anyodaya Anna Yogana (AAY) families were identified against the targeted number of 1.57 lakh AAY families, resulting in depriving 0.56 lakh families of the benefits of the scheme. Funds available for beneficiaries remained unused as well.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
The report observed that the probability of fake employees in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was high as unaccounted pay for the test-checked period amounted to Rs 7.82 lakh in 43 wards. At least 207 employees were unaccounted for in 188 cases. Their names were included in pay bills but not in attendance registers.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPT
Incorrect estimate of justified cost by the department resulted in irregular award of work amounting to Rs 234 crore. Till January 2012, Rs 167.10 crore has been paid, which resulted in excess expenditure of Rs 11.59 crore. The report also said that unlawful rescission of contract by the department resulted in extra expenditure of Rs 2.21 crore as the balance work was executed at a higher rate under a new contract.
Education dept
The Directorate of Education projected budget requirements on the basis of past trends rather than actual requirements, resulting in large scale re-appropriation of funds, some of them unnecessary. There was also lack of proper internal oversight in implementation of plan schemes such as mid-day meal. Student-teacher ratio was not good. It was also found that the department lagged in providing adequate infrastructure to schools and there was shortage of classrooms in 61 of 143 test-checked schools.