The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has criticised Ministry of External Affairs for inefficient management of its properties across the world which has costed the national exchequer several crores.
‘The Performance Audit of Global Estate Management’ by the MEA says properties were purchased or developed without assessing the basic requirement and purpose of their acquisition. This led to blocking of funds with consequential avoidable expenditure. “The financial implication on this account amounted to `41.47 crore on rents during one year only — 2011-12 besides other incidental expenses of `54.20 crore,” it said.
In China, work is yet to begin on land acquired by the Indian Consulate six years back in Shanghai. Despite acquiring a land in Trinidad and Tobago for construction of culture centre for Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation construction yet to begin. Property purchased from French Government in Paris for establishing India Culture Centre was found unsuitable.
Audit also noted that in seven cases (Geneva, Berne, Hamburg, Milan, Munich, Bishkek, and Stockholm) deficiencies and delay in decision making persisted. Failure in purchase of land and acquisition of property in time has resulted rental outgoes of `7.83 crore in 2011-12.The audit also noticed delays in construction of properties in at least ten places - Shanghai, Port of Spain, Port louis, Dar-Es-Salam, Kathmandu, Tashkent, Kyiv, Brasilia, Doha and Nicosia. The delays were due to internal process of the ministry and reasons were due to late submissions of drawings, frequent changes in project requirements and other procedural delays.
The CAG also noted irregularities and considerable delays in renovation of Indian mission properties Sydney, Hong Kong, Kuala lumpur and Jakarta.There are a total of 180 missions/posts under the Ministry. However, information in regard to 157 Missions/Posts only was provided by the Ministry, the CAG said while pointing towards gap in the monitoring by it.