CAG tables audit report of ULBs in Rajasthan Assembly

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JAIPUR, Rajasthan: Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) tabled four audit reports, including an audit report of ULBs, highlighting the shortcomings of various departments in the State Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan.

CAG report highlights the faulty implementation of the Deendayal Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna by the power distribution companies (DISCOMs) and of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) by the Department of Urban Development and other urban bodies in the state.

Audit conducted by the CAG aims to observe the measures taken by the state government against illegal mining. The report highlights that there is an urgent need to strengthen government machinery to prevent any such incidences in the future. The report further adds that the department did not employ readily available technologies and data, such as remote sensing data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to identify and stop illegal mining in Rajasthan.

Employing remote sensing data and GIS techniques in 122 cases revealed illegal mining in 34 per cent of the leased mines spread across 83.25 hectares. The department inspected around 14 mining leases highlighted in the audit and found that 13.37 lakh metric tonnes of minerals worth ₹1 bn 11 cr were mined illegally because the department did not use modern technology and inspection of the mines. The department also failed to properly use the ‘DMGOMS’ application created to monitor mining activities and collected a demand of ₹71 cr and a penalty of ₹14 cr.

CAG highlighted irregularities in issuing challans of minerals as well and pointed out that pictures of the same vehicles were used several times for making challans thus creating the possibility of evading the royalty.

Another report, issued by CAG, highlighted the faulty implementation of the Government of India’s Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) by three DISCOMs in Rajasthan. DDUGJY scheme was launched in 2014 to provide electricity connections in villages, but none of the DISCOMs could complete their assigned work within the stipulated time. The report also found faults in project formulation and execution, contract management monitoring and quality assurance and funding mechanisms in the implementation of these schemes.

DISCOMs also declared completion of the electrification process of villages when 10,320 schools in rural areas stand unelectrified. Apart from that, DISCOM also put a mixed load on the new feeders built under the scheme instead of making separate feeders for agricultural and non-agricultural loads.

Audit reports on the ‘Urban Local Bodies and Urban Development and Housing Department’ and AMRUT mission highlight shortcomings of the schemes in the state assembly. A total of 93 projects, at an estimated cost of ₹3,142 crore, were sanctioned under the scheme, but only 41 projects, worth ₹685.38 crore, have been completed, and 30 projects out of these completed projects were delayed for a period ranging between one to 37 months. Rest of the 52 projects stand incomplete, even though ₹1,712.99 crore has been spent, along with delay ranging between two to 37 months.

CAG report further points out that Jaipur Municipal Corporation suffered a loss of ₹1,712.99 lakh as they failed to issue demand letters to successful bidders in the e-auction of advertisement boards within the given time. Similarly, Bundi Municipal Corporation suffered a loss of ₹128.20 lakh as the contractors failed to deposit their contribution to the employee’s provident fund (EPF).

Along with the financial position and the performance of state undertakings, CAG report also discussed other aspects, including the role of CAG, corporate governance in state undertakings and implementation of the Indian Accounting standards in government companies. As per the report in 2020-21, out of 41 state undertakings, only 25 were making profits and the remaining 13 undertakings incurred losses. Due to the losses of these 41 public sector undertakings, in the last few years, huge losses amounting to ₹97,441.97 crore were suffered against the capital investment of ₹51,787.33 crore in these PSUs, and now the net worth of these PSUs has become negative.