BHUBANESWAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up Odisha for improper assessment of requirement and management of funds under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) to deal with Left Wing Extremist (LWE) problem in the State.
Shortcomings in budgetary control, advance release of funds to the executing agency and delayed payment of rehabilitation packages to persons, who surrendered affected the implementation of the SRE scheme and defeated the objective of the scheme, said the CAG report which was tabled in the Assembly on Monday.
The CAG recommended the Government to complete the works under SRE scheme within stipulated time, pay rehabilitation package as per rule and put in place an effective monitoring mechanism system for successful implementation of the scheme.
The Centre launched the scheme in 1996 to supplement the efforts of State Governments in dealing with Left Wing Extremists problem by reimbursing the expenditure incurred by the States on security related expenditure. Fifteen LWE affected districts of the State were covered under the scheme in two phases.
The Government surrendered `137.96 crore on the last working day (March 31) of the financial year during 2009-12 for its failure to utilise the funds.
The audit further noticed that though the State Government failed to utilise the funds, it made an additional provision of `13.91 crore in the supplementary budget for 2011-12 which was also surrendered along with savings of `73.78 crore of the year.
The Home department clarified that the Ministry of Home Affairs restricted the quantum of fund proposed while approving the annual action plan (AAP) in June every year. .
Expenditure incurred for strengthening police stations and providing logistic support to Central para-military forces for their efficient operations are reimbursable under SRE guidelines. The Government sanctioned `143.24 crore to Odisha Police Housing Corporation for 455 works during 2009-12.
The corporation could complete 247 works by utilising `56.22 crore by March 2013 while work on 85 projects was not started. Of the completed works, 140 were not handed over to the user agencies defeating the purpose for which the fund was sanctioned, the report said.
Reporting delay and inadequate payment of ex-gratia to civilians who fell victim to extremist violence and rehabilitation package to ultras who surrendered, the audit said such callousness on part of the competent authority has defeated objectives of the schemes announced by Government, the report said.