Water supply to financial aid: Raje govt depts fail to act on CM's plans

CAG report also observed that there were 877 outstanding cases of misappropriation, theft and losses of govt money under various departments amounting to Rs 670 mn

Nearly a dozen government departments in Rajasthan failed to act promptly on the ambitious initiatives announced by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje during the 2016-17 budget speech, according to the CAG report.

The report tabled in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has revealed that no expenditure was incurred by at least seven departments on major project/policy initiatives announced by the chief minister in the year 2016-17.

"Slow pace in follow-up action and laxity in starting the works is indicative of lack of monitoring and pursuance of initiatives announced by the Chief Minister during budget speech," the report said.

As per the national auditor, Rajasthan Start-up policy-2015 was implemented in the state under which financial assistance is provided to young entrepreneurs for establishing their enterprise, but no expenditure was incurred during the year.

However, the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) intimated the CAG that a sum of Rs 4.5 million (Rs 0.45 crore) was allotted and Rs 9.3 million (Rs 0.93 crore) (unaudited) was incurred and only 22 proposals of Rs 19.1 million (Rs 1.91 crore) were sanctioned during 2016-17, it said.

The slow pace of follow-up action was also observed in the Public Health and Engineering department and the Water Resources department.

No expenditure was incurred on phase-II of Jaipur-Bisalpur water supply project costing Rs 19.45 billion (Rs 1,945 crore).

"The fact remains that the reservation of additional demand of water has not been done and tendering process was not started till August 2017," it said.

Similarly, no expenditure was incurred against the budget provision of Rs 10.64 billion (Rs 1,064 crore) in Phase-1 for bringing water from Devas-3 to Rajsamand lake, Kumbharam lift project of Rs 6.25 billion (Rs 624.85 crore) and to solve drinking water problems of Udaipurwati area costing Rs 6.45 billion (Rs 644.93 crore).

The report also observed that there were 877 outstanding cases of misappropriation, theft and losses of government money under various departments amounting to Rs 670 million (Rs 67.02 crore).

The departmental and criminal investigation was awaited in 306 cases while orders for recovery/write off were awaited in 505 cases, the report read.