CUNCOLIM: The audit report of Cuncolim Municipal Council by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department has faulted the council on many fronts.
Irregularities committed have caused a loss in income to the council and councillors were paid honorarium without approval. Audit was done for the period 2014 to 2016 by officials of the department at Cuncolim with each year’s transactions checked separately in two batches.
The auditors found gross irregularities in handling the Rs 2 crore sanctioned as Golden Jubilee grant-in-aid. The council utilized only around Rs 40 lakh for Development of the Chieftains Memorial Park at Golleabhat and that too beyond the time when the funds were to be utilized.
The auditors pointed out the balance amount of around Rs 1.60 crore was not refunded to the department and further observed the grant-in-aid was kept in fixed deposit in the bank and interest accrued on the amount was also not refunded to the government. The council also diverted the golden jubilee funds which were in violation of the terms and conditions of the grant and the council sat with nearly Rs 1.74 crore as unutilized funds.
“Unauthorised holding of grant amount after the expiry resulted in blocking up of government funds,” noted the auditors while adding the funds could have been utilized for some other purpose by the department concerned. The total amount refundable was Rs 2.41 crore.
Besides, the auditors noted by March 2016 the council was holding unutilized grants amounting to Rs 1.46 crore including the interest accrued and noted this resulted in idling or blocking up of govt funds.
The auditors also pointed out that nearly Rs 48.41 lakhs were wasted on landscaping and beautification of the area around the garbage treatment plant. However, when the audit party visited the site there was no trace of any beautification and landscaping.
The auditors also noted the council did not get the mandatory approval from the Directorate of Municipal Administration regarding the honorarium paid to the councillors and further did not seek reimbursement of 50 per cent of the amount paid to the councillors from the municipal funds.
