Concerned over corruption,Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai todaycautioned that India cannot achieve and sustain high growthrate without transparency and accountability.
"Economic growth cannot be made sustainable, cannot bemade inclusive, unless it is based on transparency andaccountability," he said while speaking at the 11th All IndiaLokayuktas Conference 2012 here.
The issue of corruption in India is not new, he said,adding that the country needed to deal with it effectively toachieve and sustain 8 per cent economic growth rate as "thereis just no (other) way."
Government auditor CAG in its reports on 2G spectrum, coalblocks allocation and other issues had highlighted variouspractises of the government that lead to huge loss to theexchequer. These reports had evoked sharp reaction from thegovernment.
The Indian economy had been growing at over nine per centtill the global financial meltdown pulled the growth rate to6.7 per cent in 2008-09.
As regards the functioning of the CAG, Rai said, thegovernment auditor has started coming out with booklets tocreate public awareness on issues related day-to-day issues.
"We have now started reducing our complicated auditreports into small booklet named noddy books. On all issuesrelated to social sector, we have brought booklet of 14-15pages," he said.
The effort should be to achieve excellence and not"celebrate mediocrity", he added.