The Hindu 19.05.2010
Audit finds fault with local bodies
Staff Reporter
No one takes these objections seriously, says District Audit Officer
‘The irregularities are also reported to the Panchayat Raj Commissioner'
SANGAREDDY: Local Audit Office, which scrutinises use of general funds by local bodies, found many lapses in using these funds.
For the quarter ending on December 31, 2009, records were not submitted for the funds spent to the tune of Rs. 30.36 crore by various panchayats.
These funds were released by the Zilla Parishad.
Similarly, advances were paid but the amount was not adjusted for an amount of Rs. 2.66 crore.
Mis-utilisation of grants stands at Rs. 1.71 crore. Excess payment and wasteful expenditure combined together stand at Rs. 8.7 crore, literally. Under ‘others' category, the amount that was unaccounted for stands at Rs. 1.31 crore.
As far as Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha is concerned, the amount that was yet to be adjusted in the books stands at Rs. 1.33 crore.
In municipalities, out of the total Rs. 46.33 crore amount that was yet to be adjusted, Rs. 16.11 crore pertains to non-submission of records. Rs. 12.20 crore was spent by violating the rules. Misappropriation of funds was found to the tune of Rs. 2.11 crore. Wasteful expenditure was Rs. 2.51 crore.
In Mandal Parishads, audit objection was raised to an amount of Rs. 49.51 crore, where as it stood at Rs. 38.91 crore in Panchayats.
It has become a routine to the audit office to check the accounts and present a report on the objections. But in many cases none of the local authorities or public representatives bothered about findings by audit officials.
“No one takes these objections seriously due to various reasons. They will act only when there is surcharge certificate pending,'' says district Audit Officer D. Prasanna Kumari.
She said that they are reporting the issue even to the Panchayat Raj Commissioner.
There is also a plan for another similar audit for private buildings.
A structural designer,as well as an assistant transport planner will also be appointed by the PCMC for the purpose. This appointment will be done for the smooth running of all its transport infrastructure projects.
The corporation has been undertaking various infrastructure projects, like buildings and bridges, and the approval of all such projects by structural engineers was needed to avoid any discrepancies in the design.The ammendments made to the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act in 2008-09 makes it mandatory for the civic bodies to conduct a structural audit of all infrastructure projects within its jurisdiction. The amendments also mandate structural audit of the private buildings and societies.
As per the proposal, the government departments like the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation,must have their own structural designers who approve the project designs. Also, according to the proposal, structural audit of the private buildings and societies is mandatory too for the municipal corporations.
A mobility plan accounting some of the road infrastructure projects, including the BRTS on eight roads has already been made by the PCMC.
For the first time ever, the PCMC will also be appointing an environment conservation officer according to the directives of the state government. The environment conservation officer will be heading the environment engineering cell, which was created in November last year.