35th National Games audit drags on even after 5 months
Sources in LFAD, however, refuted the charge that entry meeting was not held
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the government’s promise in February to bring out all the expenditure details of the 35th National Games in 45 days, the exercise is yet to reach a logical conclusion even after five months.
The Local Fund Audit Department, which carried out a detailed audit of Rs 700-crore worth expenditure on the Games, had submitted its final report to the Finance Department along with a special booklet containing around 26 items that required to be further examined by the Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) two months ago.
But instead of forwarding the report to the CTE, the sports department chose to give a month’s time to the National Games Secretariat (NGS) for its clarifications on the audit findings.
Sources in the sports department said the decision to send the report to the NGS was taken as entry and exit meetings had not been convened by the LFAD.
As per the audit procedure required for such a massive exercise, entry meeting is held to explain the nature of audit and terms of reference to all stakeholders, including NGS, before beginning the audit.
Exit meeting is held with the stakeholders after the preparation of draft report to brief them on the major findings and also to provide an opportunity to them to explain their position.
Sources in LFAD, however, refuted the charge that entry meeting was not held. “We held the entry meeting and briefed the officials. But the exit meet could not be held because of the non-availability of top NGS officials in town. Before finalising the final draft report we had planned a meeting with the Games secretariat. But their top official had to go abroad following which it could not take place. Moreover, we had already overshot the 45 days’ deadline by over one month owing to various factors, and we could not have withheld the report any longer. It was submitted to the Finance Department in May end,” sources said.
A senior official in the sports department said the NGS had now been given one-month time to clarify their position on the findings of audit . “We expect to get their clarification by August 10. We will take a call on the next step after receiving their clarification,” he said.