The Comptroller and Auditor General has pointed out shortcomings in the functioning of jails in Haryana.
“There is shortage of arms and ammunition, security equipment and existence of high rise buildings and common roads adjoining jails which are security threats to jails in Haryana,” revealed the CAG report on non-public sector undertakings in the State.
Perspective plan for identifying the thrust areas requiring attention was not prepared and new jail manual on the lines of modern prison manual of the Centre was also not prepared in Haryana. As against the availability of funds of Rs 97.77 crore with Haryana State police Housing Corporation limited, only Rs 68.69 cr was spent, said the report.
It also pointed out that capacity utilisation of jails was imbalanced as inmates of three overcrowded jails were not shifted to other jails where space was available. Besides, two female hostels and a school building in district jail, Faridabad were lying unutilized for last seven years.
In district jail, Narnaul, prisoners suffering from Tuberculosis were kept along with other prisoners posing health hazards. Also, there were insufficient beds in jails hospitals, lack of medical infrastructure, non-availability of lady doctors for female inmates and non-deployment of psychiatric counselors, the report revealed.
It also stated, “Working in jail factories was not satisfactory as factories were operational only in 9 out of 19 jails in the state. Concept of open jail and rehabilitation of prisoners after their release required attention in the state.”
The State Advisory Board to advise the State Government on matters relating to correctional work in prisons and Board of Work programme and vocational training for guidance, supervision and control of vocational training for after care homes for discharged prisoners were not constituted, the report added.
Developers benefited by HUDA
Due to lack of coordination, Town and Country Planning Department and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) failed to recover government dues of Rs 14.29 crore from a defaulter developer. HUDA paid Rs 14.34 crore to developer instead of recovering/adjusting the government dues, the CAG revealed.
The report also stated, “Town and Country Planning Department granted licence for developing commercial colony by changing specified area for special zone to commercial land use without notification. Undue favour to the extent of Rs 18.94 cr was granted to a developer. Besides, thoroughfare through developer’s land was not ensured and project was launched without approval of building plan.”
Also, allotment of work by HUDA for laying of Master Water Supply Pipelines for new Sectors 58 to 115 Gurugram without ensuring availability of clear site not only led to idle expenditure of Rs 4.12 crore but also benefits of war supply in the area could not be achieved, the report said.
Failure of HUDA to ensue encumbrance free availability of land at Gurugram for the project for providing distribution mains for recycled water, even after lapse of more than three years, rendered the expenditure of Ra 108 crore incurred on the project idle, it added.
Irregularities in MDU revealed
Pointing out irregularities in the functioning of Maharshi Dayanand University, the CAG stated that work of computerization was allotted in a non-transparent manner in the University.
Payment of Rs 26.31 crore was made in excess of contract agreement. Further, the work was lying incomplete, the CAG disclosed. The report also pointed out that non-investment of surplus funds in fixed deposits resulted in loss of interest of Rs 51.71 lakh. Temporary advances of Rs 11.18 crore were also lying unadjusted.
Revealing poor academic performance in MDU, the CAG said, “Out of 92 research projects, only 37 were completed. Out of incomplete projects, 21 had crossed their scheduled date of completion. Overall pass percentage of students declines from 55 percent in 2012-13 to 41 percent in 2015-16.”
Out of teaching posts (regular) between 18 and 26 percent and teaching posts (self financing schemes) between 52 and 55 percent were lying vacant, the report stated.
Academic planning board for preparation of short term and long term development plans was not constituted in the University, established in 1976, it said. An expenditure of Rs 10.98 crore incurred on establishment of Choudhry Ranbir Singh Institute of Social and Economic Change was rendered unfruitful because of non-fulfillment of its objectives. Apart from this, printing press of University suffered loss of Rs 4.53 cr due to underutilization of its capacity, the CAG report added.