PANJIM: The Goa government failed to show capital expenditure of Rs 329.01 crore incurred under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded Water Supply and Sewerage Project for the period 2009-2013, in its accounts, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said in its report for the year ended March 2013.
CAG had red-flagged the ambitious Rs 1,031 crore project for which Louis Berger, facing bribery charges, was appointed as consultant to monitor its implementation. The consultancy firm has admitted to paying USD 976,630 to a minister in 2010 for the JICA project.
“The gap between the cost of operation of water supply schemes and the revenue generated was Rs 480.50 crore over the period 2008-13,” CAG said, adding, “The implementation of work under JICA project was tardy resulting in cost overruns.”
The CAG further observed that the State had to bear an additional burden of Rs 166.37 crore due to delay in implementation of JICA projects. “The delay in tendering of works under JICA project resulted in additional burden of Rs 166.37 crore to the State government. Moreover, delays in acceptance of tender had resulted in additional liability of Rs 69.02 crore on account of price escalation and delay in start of work resulted into more liabilities of Rs 16.65 crore,” the report says.
Government of India in 2002 requested the assistance of the Government of Japan for augmentation of water supply and sanitation in Goa in 22 different packages. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 1,031.90 crore, of which JICA sanctioned Rs 847.50 crore.
The CAG report has also noted that commencement of projects was delayed due to time taken in acceptance of tenders. “It was observed that the stipulated dates of completion of six packages were already over but the physical progress was from 40-60 percent only,” the CAG has said. CAG noted that the delay in finalizing the tenders would lead to an additional financial burden of Rs 69.02 crore on the State government.
The project aims at increasing water supply in Goa from 82 litres per capita per day (LPCD) to 100 LPCD in rural areas and from 143 LPCD to 150 LPCD in urban areas with an emphasis on 24×7 water supply.
