No watch in Odisha on use of Central funds

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, June 24: There is no single agency monitoring the use of substantial amount of grants-in-aid that the Government of India transfers to Odisha, according to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.“Government of India directly transferred substantial amount of Grants-in-aid to the State implementing agencies for implementation of different schemes in the State.Funds flowing directly to the implementing agencies through off-budget route inhibit FRBM Act requirements of transparency and escape accountability.There is no single agency monitoring the use of these funds and no data is readily available on the amounts spent in major flagship and other important schemes, says the CAG report that was laid placed in the State Assembly on Monday.“Unless uniform accounting practices are followed by all these agencies and there is proper documentation and timely reporting of expenditure, it will be difficult to monitor the end use of these direct transfers.” The CAG has recommended that the State Government has to put in place an appropriate mechanism to ensure proper accounting of these funds.