MARGAO: Terming the financial position of the Cuncolim Municipal Council as critical, the State audit has slammed the civic body for its failure to utilise government grants running into lakhs of rupees and also recover the huge outstanding tax arrears.
The State audit for the financial year 2013-14 has observed that the CMC has to make vigorous efforts to recover outstanding dues, including tax by invoking the provisions of the Municipal Act and rules in force.
Expressing surprise over the huge funds that remained unutilised with the civic body since 2002, the audit wondered how the grant was not surrendered to the sanctioning authorities after the civic body failed to utilise the same.
The audit has pulled up the civic body for irregularities in engaging labourers on daily wages without obtaining approval of the competent authority, thereby violating government’s instructions and guidelines.
On the recovery front, the Audit pointed out that the council has collected only Rs 20.47 lakh on various taxes during the year 2013-14, which constitutes only 16 per cent of total outstanding taxes pegged at a whopping Rs 1.6 crore. The audit has questioned the failure of the civic body in initiating appropriate measures to recover the huge arrears.
On the salary reserve fund, the audit said the Council has failed to maintain the salary reserve fund as pointed out repeatedly in each audit report. The audit also raised the question over the non-utilisation of the library since its construction under the MPLAD funds.
