Karnataka: RDPR does shoddy job, Central funds lost

Bengaluru: The Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) has rapped the  Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department (RDPR) for shoddy implementation of drinking water projects, resulting in loss of central grant.

In it report, tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday, the CAG pointed out that the state had achieved only 14% of its target of providing 55 litres per capita per day to 50% of the rural population.

There were delays ranging from six to ten months in submission of annual action plans of drinking water projects to the Centre. Seven projects remained incomplete since projects were taken up without checking the sustainability of the water source. Water testing laboratories were not established in 76 out of 176 taluks.

The state lost central grants of Rs 65.68 crore between 2012-2016, due to non-fulfillment of conditions prescribed by GOI. Weak financial management resulted in operation of as many as 106 bank accounts, apart from two main accounts. Funds were parked in various bank accounts and transactions made were without proper authorisation.

The government's failure to ensure adherence to the MoU with Syndicate Bank resulted in short credit of interest to the extent of Rs 237 crore. It also did not ensure the transfer of unutilised funds by ZPs back to the government, resulted in retention of Rs 41.63 crore by them.

The monitoring and evaluation of projects taken up were not adequate as the Monitoring Cell and Investigation Unit was yet to be set up at the state level, the CAG added.