Pace of development slow during L-G rule: CAG

NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on Delhi’s finances for 2014-15 rapped the city government for non-utilisation of funds and asked them to prepare realistic budget estimates to avoid large savings.

The report is of the period when the lieutenant-governor was the administrative head of the Capital through President’s rule. The Aam Aadmi Party came to power only in the end of the period in February 2015.

The public finance watchdog pointed out that the Delhi government did not use ` 6,093 crore as it did not prepare the budget after adequately scrutinising projects and schemes.

The CAG report said a ` 3,942crore fiscal deficit in 2013-14 turned to a surplus of ` 218 crore in the year ending March 2015 largely because of slow progress of schemes, non-filling of vacant posts and non-implementation of schemes. A government’s fiscal deficit is the difference between its total expenditure and total revenue.

The entire provisions of ` 265 crore under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Scheduled Caste Sub-Plans remained unutilised, it said.

The report also pointed out that substantial surrenders involving ` 997 crore were made which can be attributed to slow progress of work, release of less grant or loan and non-implementation of schemes.

“The government may consider taking up the matter with Public Account Committee Secretariat for regularisation of excess expenditure,” the report recommended. ‘AVOID LAST-MINUTE RUSH OF EXPENSES’ The CAG also criticised the government’s rush of expenditure towards the end of the financial year. “Rule 56 of the General Financial Rules provides that rush of expenditure particularly in the closing months of the financial year is regarded as a breach of financial propriety and should be avoided,” it said.

It pointed out that, in contradiction, the government’s expenses in March 2015 and the last quarter of the financial year 2014-15 under the 20 subheads ranged between 54 % and 100% of the total expenditure.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : Dated 1st April, 2016