AG reports Uttaranchal splurge on glow signs

The report, received by the Narain Dutt Tiwari-led Congress government, charged that the sum of Rs 60 lakh, given as advances to the contractors for putting up the sign-boards, was an undue favour shown to them by the officials of the Public Works Department (PWD). PWD and Information Minister Indira Hariydesh said the concerned contractors were still trying to get Rs 20 lakh when she received the audit report.

She said action would be initiated against the indicted officials of the department and recovery proceedings started against the contractors who had got undue payments. She further charged that contractors working for PWD in connivance with the officials withdrew the money fraudulently at a rate of 20 per cent of Central Sales Tax (CST) to supply the bitumen used for road construction whereas the actual rate of CST was only 2.5 per cent.