The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out irregularities to the tune of ` 2,729.59 crore in working of various departments of Chhattisgarh government.
Irregularities to the tune of `10 crore were found in road construction falling in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas under the special programme of Government of India (GoI), said Auditor General (AG) BK Mohanty while addressing a press conference here on Sunday.
Highest financial irregularities of `1473 crore were found in functioning of Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department, the AG said.
“The Department has been able to achieve only 33 per cent of the targetted area for irrigation. Delay in acquisition of land for construction of projects resulted in cost overrun of `472.11 crore in 13 projects,” Mohanty told reporters.
The Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department had also failed to collect arrears of water charges of about `558 crore from various industries in the State, he said.
Speaking over road construction in lWE affected areas, Mohanty informed that irregularities to the tune of `10 crore were observed .
In all, 53 road works covering 2021.73 km were included in the special programme between 2009 and 14.
Out of these agreements that were signed for execution of 39 roads works covering 1463.13 km, 11 road works could not start due to non-participation of contractors.
Mobilization advance of `8 crore and equipment advance of `1.39 crore paid to contractors remained unrecovered, he mentioned.
According to the AG on performance of Renewable Energy Sector in the State; against the availability of `687 crore during the period 2007-14, the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) had incurred expenditure of `554 crore.
CREDA in 2013 had executed MoU with several developers for installation of Solar Photo Voltaic Power Plant (SPVPP) of 5530 MW. It had also sanctioned 50 Small Hydro Power (SHP) projects. However, none of SPVPP/SHP were installed by November 2014.
The solar lamps distributed by the State Government were not subjected to quality check and hence huge numbers of inferior quality lamps were distributed, he informed.
“Sixty one obligated entities defaulted in compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and did not purchase Renewable Energy Certificate of `810.36 crore.
Despite this no direction was issued to these defaulting entities,” he said.