Chandigarh: Engineering dept gets audit rap for excess expenditure without approval

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The department exceeded the sanctioned expenditure by 43% in work related to construction of additional classrooms at Government High School in Vikas Nagar. The department was sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore, but it incurred an expenditure of Rs 88.59 lakh more.

Similarly, while executing work of construction of bio-technology department at Government College, Sector 11, the actual expenditure exceeded by around 40%. The department was allocated a budget of Rs 2.28 crore whereas it spent Rs 3.20 crore. For construction of a government school at Dhanas, Rs 9.58 crore was sanctioned and the department spent Rs 11.19 crore, 16.7% more than the sanctioned amount.

Ungainful expenditure due to non-completion of work

During the checking of records, it was noticed that against the estimated cost of Rs 1.23 crore for six different works, an expenditure of Rs 56.64 lakh was incurred during 2014-15. However, these works are lying incomplete due to unavailability of sites, resulting in an ungainful expenditure of Rs 56.64 lakh. As per the CPWD manual, preparation of the detailed estimate and drawings and designs should be taken up only after obtaining an assurance from the department/ministry funding the project that the site is available and without any encumbrance. On being pointed out, the engineering wing assured the audit department that efforts would be made to complete the works.

Blockade of govt money

Starting a project without proper planning by the department has led to blockade of government funds. A project worth Rs 1.19 crore for providing outfall of sewerage and storm water drainage at the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park was started in May 2009 with a deadline of 12 months for completion of work. During the course of the work, it was found that a high-tension tower was coming in the alignment of storm pipeline.

In December 2012, the department urged the electricity department to shift the tower for execution of the remaining work of laying storm water pipeline. The electricity department turned down the request on the grounds that the tower is connected with 220KV Nalagarh-Kishangarh line which feeds 60% supply to the city. The project is lying incomplete and the department made a payment of Rs 51.11 lakh to the contractor. The audit report observed that the non-completion of work resulted in blockade of government funds besides depriving the general public in the peripheral area of the facility.

Execution of work without technical sanction

The report also slammed the department for starting the work to the tune of Rs 3.75 crore regarding upgradation of existing central air conditioning plant at the Punjab and Haryana High Court without getting a detailed design and estimate approved from the competent authority.

When contacted, UT Chief Engineer S K Chadha said that they would reply to all the objections raised by the audit department within the stipulated time frame of six months.