CAG finds fault with Odisha Works Department

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 15: Performance audit of construction and maintenance of government buildings in Odisha by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India has found that residential and non-residential buildings were taken up for construction without administrative approval, proper selection of site, shifting of utility services etc.As a result some projects either did not commence or stopped mid way.Expenditure efficiency of the Works Department was poor as only 71 per cent of budget provision could be spent over five years due to delay in finalisation of site/ administrative approval/finalisation of tender and slow progress of work.“Works remained incomplete due to default in execution by contractor, delay/non-finalisation of sites, non-shifting of utility services, non-finalisation of drawing and designs etc,” according to the CAG report that was tabled in the State Assembly on Tuesday.“There were cases of diversion of funds and idle investment.Monitoring was not adequate.Lack of regular inspection of buildings resulted in failure to prevent damage to buildings.” Data base of buildings constructed was not prepared, and buildings were not handed over to user departments after their completion in some cases, according to the report.