20,000 UCs pending from 58 depts of Assam govt: CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) today slammed Assam government for failing to submit nearly 20,000 Utilisation Certificates pending from 58 departments, amounting to about Rs 12,000 crore, from 2001-02 to 2013-14.
According to the CAG's latest report on state finances for the year ended March 31, 2014, tabled in the assembly this week, 19,671 Utilisation Certificates (UCs), with respect to grants aggregating Rs 11,834.24 crore, are pending.
"In the absence of the UCs, it could not be ascertained whether the recipients had utilised the grants for the purpose for which those were given," the report said.
The auditor slammed the state government for failing to submit the UCs despite being repeatedly asked to do so.

"Mention was made in earlier audit reports of the CAG in this regard, but no efforts were made by the state to ensure submission of UCs by the respective departments within the prescribed time-frame," it added.
The CAG, however, said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had expressed concern over non-submission of the UCs in a meeting convened by the finance department in November 2012 and had directed all ministers and administrative heads to fulfil the requirement.
"Accordingly, some departments submitted UCs. However, 389 UCs amounting to Rs 2,084.56 crore submitted by nine departments were only found to be in order," it added.

CAG suggested to the respective departments to evolve a monitoring system so that expeditious submission of UCs by the recipients is ensured.