Patna,(BiharTimes): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2014-15 held the Bihar government responsible for financial mismanagement and poor budgetary control which could have a long-term negative impact on development and welfare schemes.

The report tabled in the Bihar Assembly on Friday by the state’s finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui revealed that of the Rs 43,926 crore savings, Rs 27,334 crore was only surrendered to the finance department, of which Rs 22,741 crore was surrendered on March 31, 2015, the last day of the financial year.

As Jitan Ram Manjhi was the chief minister for full nine months in the financial year 2014-15, technically it was more a report card of a sort for his government rather than for Nitish Kumar regime as a section of media is wrongly projecting.

It highlighted the poor implementation of National Rural Health Mission in Bihar where inadequate antenatal care and shortage of gynaecologists in health centres, prompted half of the pregnant women to opt for home delivery.

It pointed out that state witnessed large savings of Rs 43,926 core or over 31 per cent against total budget provision of Rs 1.40 lakh crore during 2014-15. It indicated improper budget estimation, and the unspent amount was “likely to adversely affect the implementation of development programmes in the state.”

The report praised the government for the fact that the share of salaries and wages in the revenue expenditure of selected socio-economic services decreased from 27.9 per cent in 2013-14 to 24.24 per cent in 2014-15, which indicated a positive shift in state finances.

The report extensively scrutinised the state government on its finances, revenue, socio-economic sectors and public sector undertakings. The audit is done to enhance accountability of the executive to the legislature.

Later talking to the media Accountant-General (Audit), Bihar, P K Singh said the huge savings in the budget showed that estimates were not realistic, as well as lack of control mechanism over budget estimation. It shows that realistic figures were not taken while preparing the budget.

He said all government departments have internal financial advisors and mechanisms for preparation budget, but the gap between expenditure and funds available revealed inherent inefficiencies.