Centre funds for anti-Naxal plan in UP misused: CAG

The DLC did not conduct independent survey and had least interaction at grassroots level to assess the needs of the people.

Launched with an aim to counter Naxalism by providing infrastructure in affected areas within a short period of time,the Integrated Action Plan under the Centres Backward Region Grant Fund has failed to achieve its target in Uttar Pradeshs Sonbhadra district. A report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pointed out several irregularities and said that most projects were not completed in time,quality of work was poor,there was duplication of projects,and tender process was skipped in some cases.

The implementation of the IAP was the responsibility of a three-member district level committee DLC,headed by the then District Magistrate,Pandhari Yadav,and included SP Pritendra Singh and District Forest Officer Shivpal Singh as members. Yadav is now Special Secretary to the Chief Minister. The report says: The DLC did not conduct independent survey and had least interaction at grassroots level to assess the needs of the people.

The IAP was especially launched by the Centre across 60 tribal and backward districts of the country in November 2010. In UP,Sonbhadra was selected. The purpose of the scheme was to provide public infrastructure such as school buildings,anganwadi centres,primary health centres,drinking water supply,village roads and electric lights.

The CAG report says that MoUs were not signed with executing agencies EAs which led to uncertainty in the completion and execution of projects,the financial reporting was faulty,and surplus funds were lying with the EAs even after the completion of works.

The findings

Projects for Rs 52.71 crore were sanctioned against the released amount of Rs 25 crore by the Centre in December 2010. This resulted in execution of incomplete projects and non-utilisation of released amounts till March 2011, says the report.

Executive engineer of minor irrigation EEMI was sanctioned Rs 2.28 crore in January 2011 for construction of seven check dams,but surrendered the funds in March 2011. However,Rs 8.69 lakh was paid to labourers between March 1 and April 23,2011 the period during which it had no funds. On being pointed out,the EEMI said work was started as per the DMs directions,the report says.

PWD scrutiny revealed that 32.5 km from Chikala to Channi portion of a 85-km road was sanctioned under the Special Component Plan and was under construction. Still 12 km out of the above 32.5 km was taken up for construction under IAP and Rs 95 lakh sanctioned for it. Therefore,the work which was proposed to be executed by other agency was being executed under the IAP,and NOC was not obtained from Kshetra Panchayat8230; the report says.

Story continues below this ad

A total of 1,328 hand-pumps and three mini-tubewells were constructed without any tendering and work allotted to more than one contractor by Jal Nigam without calling for competitive rates. The CAG report says,To allot work without tendering was not in accordance with the financial rules.

Not a single gram panchayat sachivalaya of the 20 sanctioned was completed till November 2011. Payments were,however,made,as per the report.

Rs 330 lakh was released for 150 anganwadi centres,but none was completed even after the lapse of about a year.