Missing film,late brochures: audits find 26/11 anniv bungles
The Public Accounts Office of the Maharashtra government had alleged irregularities and raised serious objections to the manner in which around Rs 1 crore each
The Public Accounts Office of the Maharashtra government had alleged irregularities and raised serious objections to the manner in which around Rs 1 crore each was spent on events that marked the first two anniversaries of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Following the audit reports,the third anniversary last month was deliberately kept a low-key affair by the state Home Department,documents accessed by The Indian Express show.
The objections raised by the resident audit officer of the Public Accounts Office include the manner in which the management of the events was given to Linterland,the rural marketing and communications division of advertising firm Lintas India Pvt Ltd,without due tendering.
Following the audit objections,a frantic search is now under way to locate a documentary film for which the government was billed over Rs 54 lakh. The Home Department has not yet been able to provide details of the number of times the documentary was shown since it was made,or whether it was shown during the first and second anniversaries at all.
According to a two-page audit note dated June 14,2010,the Home Department decided to organise an event called Mumbai Shapath on November 23,2009,and accorded administrative approval for provision of Rs 1 crore. The work had already been entrusted to M/s Lintas India Pvt Ltd as per a November 13,2009,letter.
Linterland refused to discuss the details with The Indian Express. We are a part of a professional communication group and work with some of the most respected brands in the country. Linterland was appointed to undertake the said project for the Maharashtra Government and had completed the same as per the brief given by authorized officials, an email from a Linterland spokesperson said.
The audit has raised the following objections:
The company Lintas India Pvt Ltd in its letter dated 13.11. 2009 had made a reference of discussions held on 05.11.2009… There is nothing on record to show if the government had followed tender procedures or made any negotiations with other companies to find out competitive rates though there was sufficient time.
The company submitted its proposal for expenditure of Rs 70,06,531 for all items of work and subsequently,vide letter dated January 7,2010,stated to have incurred additional expenditure of Rs 29,22,950. The company stated that due to non-availability of Home Minister R R Patil,shooting was cancelled on one occasion,and to incorporate additional footage… it had to do an additional shooting of 3 days as against original estimate of 4 days… It is observed that the company had given its proposal for a documentary film of approximately 10 minutes and itwas to be completed in about 10 days. Work order was placed on 13.11.2009; work commenced on 14.11.2009,completed on 24.11.2009 and the bill was submitted on 25.11.2009,which indicates that the company did not shoot on any additional days. As the scripts are not available on record,the claim could not be verified in audit.
Original expenditure for event execution and management was estimated at Rs 20,00,000. Later on,vide letter dated January 7,2010,the company stated that original estimate was for accommodating 1,000 persons as is mentioned in the detailed break-up cost. Subsequently the quantity was increased from 1,000 persons to 1,500 persons,and the company charged for additional arrangements for sound and lighting equipment,seating and generators at Rs 5,50,000 4,50,000 1,00,000… It is observed that the original estimate of Rs 20,00,000 did not have any quantitative details.
In the second bill of Rs 29,22,250,the company charged Rs 12,00,000 for additional photography and re-editing of documentary film… No quantitative details are furnished.
For printing of invitation and brochures,the company has charged Rs 3,69,720 inclusive of VAT 4… The brochures were delivered in Mantralaya on 06.01.2010. Delivery of brochure after the event was over lost utility,and therefore,the claim was liable to be delayed.
Documents accessed by The Indian Express also reveal that the anniversary this year was kept a low key-affair as similar audit objections were raised in 2010 about how work was assigned to Linterland,for which Rs 99,22,950 was spent by the state government.
Additional Chief Secretary Home Umesh Chandra Sarangi said he needed to check on the audit objections but confirmed the work of organising these events was given to Lintas.
Chandra Iyengar,Additional Chief Secretary Home during the first two anniversaries,did not want to comment as she is no longer in government. I am sure the government has responded to the audit objections.
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