CAG report finds 'serious' lapses in Mizo Health Dept

There were "serious" lapses in procurement and allotment of vehicles in Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Department, Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said in its latest report.
The report, tabled in the Assembly last week, said Mizoram government had received Rs 3 crore from the Centre as incentive grant for reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) under recommendations of 13th Finance Commission.
The grant was approved by High Level Monitoring Committee on August 21, 2013 for purchase of 30 vehicles -- two trucks, two mini trucks and 26 light vehicles for 12 community health centres (CHCs), 57 primary health centres (PHCs), 370 sub-centres and 109 sub-centre clinics in the state, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said.

Scrutiny of the records of director of health services in August 2015, however, revealed that the director had issued orders on April 9, 2014 for purchase of 38 vehicles without ascertaining the approved rates of the Director General, Supplies and Disposals and without obtaining recommendations from State Purchase Advisory Board or Departmental Purchase Advisory Board.
The orders were issued for purchase of 26 boleros, seven gypsy (Hard Top), two Trucks and three mini trucks to three vehicle dealers by the director of health services which released 100 per cent advance payment to them without ascertaining or confirming delivery period and entering into a formal agreement, it said.

One dealer delivered 26 Boleros within one month from the date of receipt of advance payment, but another delivered one hard top and six soft top gypsy vehicles against the order of seven hard top ones in February, 2015 after a delay of more than six months.

Though the price for soft top gypsy was lower than hard top ones, the director of health services has so far not taken any action for recovery of the difference money for six soft top gypsy in lieu of six hard top ones.
The third dealer failed to deliver the two trucks and three mini trucks for which Rs 55 lakh advance payment was made on July 31, 2013 and September nine, 2013 respectively, even after a lapse of more than one year from the date of receipt on the ground that it was facing financial crisis.

The payment in advance was "infructuous", the CAG report said, adding the vehicles were also not deployed in areas instructed by the principal secretary to Health and Family Welfare Department -- like PHCs and CHCs in the remote high IMR areas.
Eighteen vehicles (12 bolero and six gypsy) were allocated to medical officers of various districts, while 15 vehicles (14 bolero and one gypsy) were allotted to various officials attached to the directorate in Aizawl town and the purpose of using them to reduce IMR was not served, the report said.