news details |
|
|
| PCB inaction puts SWM schemes into jeopardy | | Of Rs 94.45 lakhs only 16.87 lakh spent | |
Arun Singh
JAMMU, Mar 20: Despite liberal funding from Central Government for the implementation of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes under Solid Waste Management, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) failed to implement them in totality as only Rs 16.87 lakh were spent out of Rs 94. 45 lakhs sanctioned by GoI. Moreover, against 20 mandatory meetings required to be held, the Board met only on three occasions.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report observed no Utilization Certificates (UCs)/ Statement of Expenditure (SOE)/ Progress Reports (PRs) were sent to the fund releasing authorities with the result the balance funds could not be claimed.
CAG said that out of Rs 10.25 lakh sanctioned by the Government of India (Gol) in March 1997 for implementation of six schemes like Survey and Management of City Solid Waste (Rs 3 lakh), preparation of status report on Mansar Lake (Rs 1.25 lakh), Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for Patnitop and Sanasar (Rs 2.25 lakh), Ecology study of Katra (Rs 1.25 lakh), Polythene menace and assessment (Rs 2 lakh) and Rag pickers and time study (Rs 0.50 lakh), first installment of Rs 4 lakhs was released by the GOI in April 1997. The Board had utilized an amount of Rs 1.91 lakh only and the balance amount was lying un-utilized as of March 2013.
Even Board had not maintained the records/ registers to indicate the details of programmes and schemes entrusted to it by the CPCB or any other agency for implementation in the State.
CAG further maintained that an assistance of Rs 69.15 lakh for purchase of equipment for up-gradation of the laboratories under the scheme 'Assistance for Abatement of Pollution' was sanctioned by Gol in March 2003 and first installment of Rs 31.86 lakh was received by the Board in April 2003 with the condition that purchase and installation of equipment shall be completed within the year 2003-04. Audit check of records showed that the Board had spent Rs 4.50 lakh only on purchase of equipment in 2006-07.
Moreover, for arranging 'training/ workshop programme' under BMW Management Rs 15 lakh was released (January 2009) by the Director, Family Welfare and RCH, J&K, Jammu to the Board. Records showed that the entire amount of Rs 15 lakh was released by the Board to the field offices in February 2009. The Board utilized Rs 10.46 lakh out of the released funds and further funds for the purpose could not be claimed and the scheme remained unimplemented.
Against the 20 mandatory meetings required to be held during the period from 2008-09 to 2012-13, the Board had met on three occasions and no specific advice concerning the prevention and control or abatement of pollution was sent to the State Government for taking appropriate action.
It was observed in audit that the committees constituted in March 2009 by the Board under provisions of Pollution Control Acts had never convened any meeting during the period 2009-13, thus rendering the constitution of these committees a mere formality. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
