New Delhi: Pointing out irregularities and lack of financial transparency in a number of Delhi government departments, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) today said they have resulted in loss of crores of rupees in revenue.
In its report tabled in Parliament today, the CAG said that test check of the records of 96 units of departments of Trade & Taxes, State Excise, Transport, Entertainment, Luxury & Betting and Revenue conducted during the year 2012-13 showed under-assessment/short levy/loss of revenue aggregating to Rs 2,041.32 crore in 2238 cases.
"The concerned departments accepted under-assessment and other deficiencies of Rs 50.46 crore involved in 627 cases pointed out in audit during 2012-13 and earlier years. The departments recovered Rs 5.61 lakh in six cases during the year 2012-13," report said.
It also out questioned the actions by Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited, which "benefited" discoms, Urban Development department, Delhi Transport Corporation and "wasteful expenditure" of two super speciality hospitals.
Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board didn`t form the Urban Shelter Consultative Committee and Basti Vikas Samitis and didn`t initiate any new housing scheme for relocation of residents of jhuggi jhopri bastis, it said.
"The Board did not have a complete and reliable record of its properties. Rs 232.10 crore was outstanding to be recovered from allottees of its properties," report said.
Slamming PWD, the CAG report said that the figures of budget allotment and actual expenditure of E-in-C office were not reconciled with those of Pay and Accounts office.
"The Urban Development Department of the government has also failed to provide basic services like sewer lines, water lines, roads and drainage to all the 895 unauthorised colonies despite incuring expenditure of Rs 3029.21 crore up to March 2013," the report also said.
The report said that Delhi Transport Corporation suffered avoidable loss of Rs 53.59 crore on account of unauthorised occupation of staff quarters at two staff colonies.
The CAG also lashed out at Indraprastha Power Generation Company for acting in a way that led to giving undue benefit to discoms.
"Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited by delaying recovery of advance income tax paid, blocked their funds and suffered interest loss of Rs 6.42 crore leading to undue financial benefit to DISCOMs," the report added.
CAG also pointed out that Irrigation and Flood Control Department did not propose any new work till May 2011, even after Yamuna breached danger levels in 2008, 2009 and 2010. De-silting of drains and dumping of removed silts in authorised locations were not ensured.
The report also said that the loss of Rs 1.44 crore was reported in Delhi Legislative Assembly as there was no formal agreement to run the eatery.
"Delay in selection and appointment of Advisor for selection of an operator resulted in blockage of funds to the tune of Rs 5.67 crore. Loss of Rs 1.44 crore in operation and management of a canteen in Delhi Legislative Assembly due to absence of a formal agreement and non-conducting any cost-benefit analysis," The CAG also lashed out at "wasteful expenditure" of two super speciality hospitals in the national capital.
"Blockade of funds of Rs 191.80 crore and wasteful expenditure of Rs 80.20 lakh on construction and operationalisation of two super speciality hospitals in West and East Delhi, which are not fully functional," report further added.
CAG also criticised the Municipal Corporation for not maintaining its community halls (CHs) properly. Basic amenities and facilities such as drinking water, sanitation, drainage and sewerage, electric fittings etc were absent or of sub-standard quality in CHs, it said.
Parking facilities, kitchen facilities and fire safety arrangements were not up to the mark. Monitoring of functioning of the CHs was not effective. The occupancy of CHs was sub-optimal, the report said.
CAG also found fault in the functioning of Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. "The Board did not prepare annual plans and fix targets of recruitment. Large number of requisitions were pending for finalisation for recruitment. The Board did not finalise even a single requisition within prescribed period of 180 days from the date of its receipt," it said.
