AG finds irregularities worth crores in Naxal-hit Bastar area

AG officials found that works worth over Rs 14 crore under Backward Regions Grant Fund were pending in Bastar district

Various alleged administrative and financial irregularities worth crores have been pointed out in execution of development works in worst Naxal-hit Bastar district of Chhattisgarh by state Accountant General.

In its sample inspection, AG officials found that works worth over Rs 14 crore under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) were pending in Bastar district.These works should have been completed during the period of 12th Finance Commission.

The tenure of the 12th Finance Commission was between 2005-06 to 2009-10. After this, the term of 13th Finance Commission began.

Works under 12th Finance Commission could have not been approved after 2009-10, but it has been found in inspection of documents that various works were approved after the expiry of 12th Finance Commission's term, the inspection report by office of the AG, which acts as distant arm of Comptroller and Accountant General (CAG), said.

800 works were approved between 2007-08 and 2012-13 involving Rs 23.26 crore. Of these, 660 works were completed and 140 were pending execution. The state government has spent Rs 20.06 crore on these works, it said.

The report, which was accessed by RTI activist Ajay Dubey, said people of the area were denied benefits due to non-completion of these works.

The AG found that 562 works worth Rs 10.06 crore, approved under BRGF scheme, were not completed in Bastar, which is one of the worst Naxal-affected district of the state.

As many as 6,134 development works were approved between 2007-08 and 2011-12. Of these, 5,562 were completed and 562 works involving Rs 10.06 crore were not completed, the report said.