Not all was well with the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department (FARD) during 2009-14 as far as development of fisheries sector is concerned. For, the FARD could utilise only 45 per cent of the Central/State funds it received during the period.
As per the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the activities of the Odisha Pisciculture Development Corporation limited (OPDC) and FARD in developing the fisheries sector, the department received a budgetary allocation of Rs324.25 crore during 2009-14 from the State and Central Governments but it surrendered Rs188.75 crore (55 per cent) due to non/partial implementation of scheme works.
The report says due to non/poor execution of different Central schemes, FARD had to surrender Rs14.59 crore and could not avail Rs92.1 crore further Central assistance. The OPDC also refunded Rs10 crore it availed from Special Relief Commissioner thanks to lack of estimates for reconstruction/ restoration of fish firms.
The OPDC incurred loss of revenue to the tune of Rs11.60 crore because of shortfall in production of spawn and fry. The spawn production was 17,110 lakh while fry production stood at 5,245 lakh. Production of shrimp and marine fish also fell from target. While 7,580 MT shrimp worth Rs163.32 crore was produced, 0.38 lakh marine fish worth Rs202.06 was produced.
Of the Rs11.65 crore of grant, the OPDC received from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for modernisation and upgradation of seven fishing harbours/fish landing centres, it could complete only one project. The Baugaon fish landing centre remained incomplete after a lapse of 11 years leading to cost overrun of Rs2.83 crore. Similarly due to non-utilisation of machine hours and shortage of staff/power/working capital, there was shortfall in production of fishing net for which the OPDC sustained a potential revenue loss of Rs7.03 crore.
On the front of collection of lease value and royalty, the FARD also missed the target. Against targeted lease value and royalty of Rs5.32 crore, the FARD realised Rs1.85 crore only from Primary Fishermen Co-operative Societies during 2009-14. Interest earned on scheme funds of Rs1.81 crore accrued in bank account remained idle without refund or adjustment.