MARGAO: The Rumdamol-Davorlim gram sabha today approved the Audit Report for the financial year 2017-18 when the new panchayat body took over without even discussing any of the negative comments made by the auditors.
The Audit Report while noting that there are huge variations in the budget estimate and actual, however said that the financial condition of the panchayat is ‘quite satisfactory’ even though the tax collection is poor.
Incidentally the panchayat had four sarpanchas and two secretaries during the period of audit. The four sarpanchas were Tulshidas Dessai of the previous body and Flancy Gomes, Deepak Mangalam and Bina Kulkarni of the present body. The two secretaries were Angelico Gracias and Custodio Faria.
The auditors pointed out that an amount of Rs 22.14 lakh has remained unspent during the financial year and asked the panchayat to prepare realistic budget in future taking into account the figures of the previous two years. The variation in the budget estimates was Rs 67.95 lakh in income and Rs 42.23 in expenditure.
Although the financial position of the panchayat was found to be quite satisfactory, the panchayat was advised to invest more funds in fixed deposits to earn more revenue as the panchayat has Rs 84.41 lakh in its bank accounts.
While noting that the panchayat secretary has not taken any initiative to settle the old outstanding audits, the audit report also pointed out that the secretary had not attested the receipts and payment entries as required. Incidentally, the secretary has also not paid the surety deposit.
The BDO did not inspect even once the panchayat as against the stipulated three inspections and the Extension Officer has not conducted even one of the mandated five inspections.
