Various departments of Gujarat government have come under the scanner of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for financial irregularities. In its report for the year ended 31 March 2008, CAG has pulled up Gujarat Government for irregularities to the tune of Rs. 104.13 crore.
State government departments, which include Ports and Transport, Energy and Petrochemicals, Education, Home, Narmada Water Resources, Water Supply and Kalpasar Department, Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development, have faced the ire of CAG for committing serious financial irregularities leading to huge loss to the state.
The audit of financial transactions of various departments by CAG has revealed instances of fraudulent payment, losses, infructuous, wateful expenditure and blockage funds. Infructuous and wasteful expenditure to the tune of Rs. 30.17 crore of was noticed in Narmada Water Resources, Water Supply and Kalpasar Department, states the report that was tabled today in the state assembly. The report further points out Rs. 2.64 crore wasteful expenditure in Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department.
Apart from this, CAG has taken a serious note of violation of contractual obligation and undue favour to contractors by in Narmada Water Resources, Water Supply and Kalpasar Department. The irregularities are to the tune of Rs. 35.92 crore, according to the report. In case of education department, CAG has observed that despite the re-fixation (February-2006) of monthly remuneration of Rs. 3,500 for Shikshan Sahayaks, Rs. 4,000 monthly remuneration was continued to be paid in case of 14 districts.
