CAG points out poor planning in TS Budget, unspent funds

Hyderabad: The CAG report tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Sunday revealed improper Budget planning and implementation of schemes and programmes which were not envisaged in the Budget. The Comptroller and Auditor General also pointed to underspending in housing, industries and commerce, and major and medium irrigation sectors.

The CAG stated that Rs 7,222 crore was allocated for housing in the Budget but the actual expenditure was just Rs 252 crore, down by 97 per cent.

The industries and commerce department got Rs 1,696 crore in the Budget but the actual expenditure was just Rs 286 crore. Over 83 per cent of the funds remained unspent.

The state government allocated Rs 9,351 crore for the major and medium education sector which spent just Rs 1,844 crore and left 80 per cent of the funds unused.

"The huge savings under housing, industries and commerce indicates that schemes envisaged in the Budget had been given lesser priority during implementation either due to the conservative approach of the Government to attain the fiscal targets or the shortfall is purely due to inaccuracy in the budget estimation process of the department," the CAG noted in its report.

The CAG pointed out that the supplementary provision was obtained for Rs 24,144 crore which worked out to 15 per cent of the total expenditure incurred by the government during 2021-22. Significant savings were noticed against the original Budget allocation during 2021-22 in the departments of school education, sports, municipal, tribal welfare, BC welfare and endowments departments.