CAG audit shows Odisha surrendered Rs 842.98 cr Central fund for irrigation in 2014-20

Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has found in its performance audit on surface irrigation that Rs 842.98 crore Central fund was surrendered by the Odisha government 2014-20.

Informing about the CAG audit of the State’s performance in surface irrigation, Principal Accountant General Bibhudutta Basantia stated though the spending efficiency of the authorities of test-checked projects ranged from 74 per cent to 99 per cent, a sum of Rs 842.98 crore was surrendered during 2014-20 without its immediate utilisation.

The surrender of funds was mainly due to delay in handing over of clear site for execution by the Irrigation Department, delay in obtaining mandatory clearances, etc., as well as poor monitoring by the Department, Basantia added.

The audit also noticed other irregularities in financial management such as non-receipt of central assistance, parking of funds in various banks without utilisation for which it was drawn, non-deposit and non-realisation of government revenue, non-adjustment of advances and inadmissible payment of tax to the extent of Rs 2,203.84 crore.

Budget provision for the surface irrigation during the period 2014-15 to 2019-20 was Rs 30,366.51 crore. But Rs 25,153.35 crore had been utilised.

The performance audit covered 24 major/minor irrigation and mega lift projects which were completed/partly completed during January 2011 and March 2017.

A performance audit on surface irrigation was conducted during June to September 2019 covering the period from April 2014 to March 2019, and by conducting test check of one completed and four partly completed major projects, nine completed mega lift projects and 10 completed minor irrigation projects. The performance audit revealed several deficiencies in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the projects.