SHILLONG, JAN 6: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) was silent on irregularities in implementation of grants received from the Centre.

This was revealed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report for the year ended March 31, 2019..

It said that the government of India in their sanction order stipulated that UCs shall be submitted within twelve months from the date of release of funds as per GFR 2017, Government of Meghalaya released Rs 32.25 crore to KHADC on December 28, 2017.

Audit noticed that out of the 35 projects sanctioned, KHADC was yet to complete the construction of ‘Traditional Cultural Centre at Umiam, Jingkeing Kalong’. The sanctioned cost of the project was Rs 7.50 crore against which KHADC had incurred up-to-date expenditure of Rs 5.87 crore, leaving an unspent balance of Rs 1.63 crore as liability.

Scrutiny of records, however, revealed that KHADC had submitted UCs for a total amount of Rs 32.09 crore during October 2018 to February 2021, leaving pending UCs of Rs 0.16 crore.

The above indicates that KHADC had submitted UC of Rs 1.47 crore (Rs 1.63 – Rs 0.16) before actual utilisation of the grants. Further it was observed that out of the total UC submission, UCs for Rs 21.69 crore were submitted after delays ranging from 17 to 788 days beyond the stipulated time, the report said while adding that the reason for delay in submission of the UCs, that too before actual utilisation of the grant, amounting to Rs 1.47 crore, was not found on record.

On being pointed out by audit, the Secretary to the Executive Committee, KHADC stated (August 2022) that no expenditure was incurred during 2017-18 against the release of grants of Rs 32.25 crore. However, the Council was silent on irregularities in implementation of grants received.

The Council needs to draft specific rules for contracting of civil works in order to avoid irregularities in the award of works as pointed out by Audit, it said.

Read: CAG reveal anomalies in KHADC appointment, promotion

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