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| Misappropriation of Govt money looms large in JK | | Rs 82 lakh shown incurred on project that never existed on ground | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 21: A whopping amount of Rs 82 lakh has been shown incurred on the project that never existed on the ground, raising a serious suspicion over the misappropriation of government money in the already cash-starved erstwhile state.
As per the documents in possession of Early Times newspaper, J&K Cable Car Corporation Limited released in July 2017 Rs 78 lakh to J&K Housing Board for execution of sub-project ‘Development of tourist facilities around Khusalsar Lake’. However, no works were executed by the Board as the area was not identified/ demarcated by the Project Authority. As a result, the subproject was dropped in February 2019 by the GoI.
As per the utilization certificates submitted in November 2018 to GoI of India, an expenditure of Rs 82 lakh was shown incurred, thereby incorrectly reporting the expenditure to the GoI. Therefore, not only funds were lying with the implementing agency in Bank Account, but also the expenditure incurred was not reduced from the reported figures.
The risk of misappropriation of the Government money exists in such a situation. furthermore, the Subsidiary accounts and the audited statements of accounts were required-as per the Condition 15 of the sanction order-to be prepared and submitted to higher authorities. Audit scrutiny of records of ten executing agencies revealed that the same was not being done. They include Dy. Director (M&W) Jammu and Srinagar, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, Rajouri Development Authority, Poonch Development Authority, Floriculture Department, SKICC, Gulmarg Development Authority, J&K Housing Board (Unit-II); and LAWDA.
The sanctioned project cost was Rs 98.70 crore, out of which an amount of Rs 74.70 crore (76 per cent) was released in September 2020 by the GoI credited directly into the Bank account of J&K State Cable Car Corporation under intimation to the Jammu and Kashmir Government. The Jammu and Kashmir Government was required to complete the project by providing the balance funds. The final installment of Rs 24 crore was to be reimbursed by GoI on receipt of the Utilisation Certificate for the entire project cost of Rs 98.70 crore. As the Jammu and Kashmir Government did not release balance Rs 24 crore to the implementing agencies for completion of the works of the project, it could not furnish utilisation certificate of entire sanctioned amount of the project. Thereby the claim of reimbursement of the balance amount from GoI could not be preferred. Thus, assets remained incomplete and Jammu and Kashmir Government could not avail funding to the extent of Rs 24 crore. |
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