CAG report terms purchase of land in CRZ 'imprudent'

A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has termed as "imprudent" the decision of the territorial administration in purchase of land falling under Coastal Regulation Zone for setting up a residential school, exclusively for 1,500 SC students.
The "imprudent" decision of the territorial government to purchase land despite knowing that it fell under the CRZ in which developmental activities would be permitted only for benefit of local inhabitants or fishermen folk "resulted in unfruitful expenditure of Rs 13.64 crore besides defeating the social objective of establishing residential school for the scheduled caste students," the report tabled in the Assembly by Chief Minister N Rangasamy for year ended March 2014 today said.

The Adi Dravidar Welfare department had purchased the land.
The report said though the Centre had identified only 83,600 BPL families as eligible for coverage under public distribution system with entitlement of 35 kg of foodgrains per family, the territorial government identified more number of BPL families (1,44,658). This had led to scaling down of rice entitlement of BPL families to match foodgrains allotment by the Union government.
It stated under performance audit on implementation of PDS in the Union Territory, the firm selected for implementation of smart ration card system "was not technically qualified resulting in delayed implementation".
The report said follow up action for removing ineligible cards identified for enrolment under the smart ration card system was incomplete.

Diversion of kerosene allotted under PDS was noticed while wheat was not supplied to beneficiaries in Yanam region despite availability of allocation.
"Shortfall in inspection of fair price shops was noticed and the State, District and Block level vigilance committees were not formed," the report said.