NEW DELHI: In a deviation from the approved action plan of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the purchase of weapons by the Kerala Government to the tune of Rs 89.25 lakh as part of the modernisation of the police force was irregular, according to the audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG).
Lack of proper planning and implementation has landed the modernisation programme in a shambles, said the report.
Equipment were purchased during August-September 2005 for the Regional Forensic Science Laboratories (RFSL) at Kannur and Thrissur worth Rs 3.42 crore, said the report. Though the building for the Kannur unit was completed by November 2004 and the equipment were installed, it could not be made operational due to the non-deployment of technical staff. In Thrissur, though the equipment were purchased, the non-completion of the building got the project delayed.
Overall, the report said, non-synchronising of the purchase of equipment with the construction of buildings and posting of staff resulted in idling of equipment worth Rs 3.42 crore. Regarding modernisation of the Finger Print Bureau, despite the approval of the MHA to buy modern equipment like poly ray, video spectral comparator, crime light equipment etc, they were not purchased and conventional methods were still being employed. Out of the total outlay of Rs 3.6 crore, only Rs 1.6 crore was used, the report said, adding that the use of conventional methods caused difficulties to investigating officers affecting the quality of results.
A police communication project using satellite communication for transfer of data, voice and fax namely POLNET was proposed to be implemented in the state which was to be fully commissioned by March 31, 2005, said the report. For this, the State Government was to identify the sites for the installation of the equipment.
Despite spending Rs 4 crore, the POLNET could not be made fully operational for want of aerial masts, said the report. Huge amounts transferred to the Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation Limited were lying unutilised due to failure of the department in handing over the sites construction of buildings, said the report. Overall, the report said, annual plans were being prepared in Kerala without proper assessment of needs and their delayed approval has affected the implementation of the scheme of modernisation of police force.