Punjab to have audit of funds for villages by indp agencies

Punjab government has decided to conduct bi-annual internal performance audit of funds disbursed for villages and wards by independent agencies.
After administering oath of office to Sarpanches and Panches here today, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the step has been taken to maintain transparency and accountability.
"It has been decided to conduct internal performance audit of every single penny being spent by Panchayats and Municipal Corporations, Nagar Councils, Block Samitis and Zila Parishads to maintain transparency and accountability," he said.
He said the administrative and technical functioning in this regard has been completed.
Badal claimed that this initiative would be totally different from regular audit being conducted by Comptroller & Auditor General of India and state government would engage top independent audit agencies for this purpose.

He said he has already directed Finance department to finalise the comprehensive policy in-consultation with other concerned departments so that this independent audit could be started by the end of this year.
On being asked about the details of audit, Badal said as per the development plan of state government, there would be Rs 24,000 crore expenditure on overall development of over 13,000 villages so it should be mandatory to conduct independent audit of such a huge money for proper utilisation of funds.