CAG finds ‘unauthorised’ holes in Army Golf courses

In its report on Defence Estates Management,the Government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said the golf courses were built on Defence land covering an area of over 8,000 acres and revenues were earned without paying any lease rent to the Government for using government assets.

“Scales of accommodation don’t include Golf as an authorised activity. Hence,Golf courses and attendant activities can’t be considered as military activities and A1 land can’t be used for Golf courses,” the report said.

A1 land refers to the defence land directly under the control of local military authorities.

In 2004,the report said,the then Army Chief General N C Vij had named Golf Courses as Army Environmental Park and Training Area and the land would continue to be A1 land.

He had even directed that no commercial activity would be carried out on these courses,it added.

The CAG pointed out that the courses were being operated by Army Zone Golf,which was a private body,and was extending membership to civilians and foreign nationals also.

“Heavy amount of revenues were being earned without paying any lease rent for use of Government assets… Revenue generated was not credited to Government account and was presumed credited to regimental funds,” it added.

Regimental funds in the Army are not subject to audit by the CAG.

The CAG said despite such “anomalies”regarding the status of these golf courses,the Defence Ministry has never framed a set of rules for governing them including the treatment of revenue generated by them.

“The status of such courses continue to be unclear in absence of any policy or set of rules. This has allowed the authorities to exploit these courses. What we are saying is that please have a set of rules and policies which will govern the golf courses. It is unauthorised and we stand by that,” Director General Defence Services Audit Gautam Guha said.

The CAG said the Army and the Directorate General,Defence Estates (DGDE) had “conflicting” views on the issue as the former stated that the courses were there to maintain ecological balance at the military stations and were also used for training troops whereas the DGDE had said that they not permitted to be built on A-1 land.

“The conflicting stands would be further apparent from the fact that DGDE had worked out Rs 54.95 crore as outstanding lease rent from the Army Golf Course in Delhi from the period of January 1989 to 2008,” the report said.