CAG exposes widespread irregularities in water resources dept

Patna,(BiharTimes): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has highlighted serious irregularities in the water resources department, including injudicious use of funds by its officials for purchase of big and spacious vehicles for holding meetings on their tour.

What is more it said the vehicles were purchased on telephonic order from an under secretary rank officer.

The CAG report: "The water resources department (WRD) officials told the AG in November, 2012, that purchase of big and spacious vehicles on March 28 last year were made to facilitate the department’s principal secretary to discuss strategy of flood management with the department officers during the tour.”

The report termed the purchase of vehicles as injudicious use of funds meant for flood control plans. The WRD chief engineer at Muzaffarpur purchased ten vehicles for Rs 65 lakhs through Bagmati division of Runnisaidpur. He also purchased one Toyota Fortuner FB costing Rs 21.45 lakhs for the use of the department’s principal secretary.

The AG also found serious irregularities in execution of flood control measures.

It said the WRD could construct only 61.47 km of new embankment against the target of 1,535 km during 2007-12. Consequently, only 4.83 lakh hectares of flood prone area could be protected against floods, leaving a shortfall of 21 lakh hectares till March, 31 2012.