CAG picks holes in working of SRTC, PWD over funds mis-utilisation

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 05: Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) has not accounted Rs 11.60 crore payable as outstanding balance of Contributory Provident Fund, State Life Insurance and Life Insurance Corporation for the last fifteen years.

According to the CAG report the department has give any details of the outstanding electricity charges to Power Development Department (PDD) resulting in understatement of current liabilities as well as loss to the extent of RS 61.91 lakh.

Moreover, Motor Accidental claims awarded by MACT are concern the JKSTRC department has not shows the compensation of Rs 40.84 lakh.

Whereas the capital included Rs 0.80 crore contributed by the state government towards the share capital for which no shares has been allotted. The amount should have been reflected as capital pending allotment.

Against outstanding advances of Rs 32.23 crore, the advances worked out Rs 31.09 crore after taking into account outstanding advaces as on March 2006, additions recovery and provision, thus indicating variation of Rs 1.14 crore.

During the year 2010-11, one Statutory Corporation ie. Jammu and Kashmir State Financial Corporation forwarded one account (2006-07) and another Statutory Corporation i.e Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation had furnished the revised accounts for one year (2005-06) during the period of October 2010 to September 2011. Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation had never submitted its accounts to CAG since 1996-97 when its audit was entrusted to CAG.

Exposing the working of Public Works Department (PWD), CAG says that shortfall in achievement of targets was witnessed in all the programems. Unrealistic estimation led to cost over-run the original estimates in 1803 road works. Cost overrun of Rs 27.52 crore was witnessed in 98 roads and 45 buildings works.

In what could be an embarrassment for the planners, report has castigated over the time over run of one to nine years in 167 roads and 200 buildings works taken up by the PWD.

Works taken up on disputed sites resulted in blocking of Rs 148.43 crore on 113 road and 56 building works. 59 works had been split at different levels to avoid sanction of the higher authority.

“Due to the non-procurement of construction material, eight executing division spent Rs 62.47 crore on procurement of material from the open market and incurred an expenditure of Rs 1.04 crore.