DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 23 (MExN): The Nagaland chapter of the All India Anti Corruption Organisation (AIACO) has demanded CBI investigation into alleged irregularities detected by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the distribution of subsidized kerosene and fraudulent payments by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
The AIACO issued a press release on February 23, highlighting the alleged irregularities. The release was issued by Dziesevituo Solo, Vice Chairman, AIACO, Nagaland state.
PDS Kerosene
Citing the CAG report for the fiscal year ending March 2022, it held the state government of diverting 6113.19 kilo litres (KL) of subsidized kerosene worth Rs 19.56 cr. “This misconduct was detected after a thorough examination of both central and state data,” it said. The alleged diversion was also reported by The Morung Express in September 2023 based on the CAG’s report.
While the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) had allocated a total of 17,892 KL to the state during 2019-21, it held that the Food & Civil Supplies Department reported lifting only 13,752 KL from the IOCL during the same period.
However, cross-checking of data from the Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Statistics (2019-21) as well as IOCL’s data in July 2022, “it was discovered that the state government had actually lifted 17,367 KL (97.07%)” pointing to the Department under-stating the quantity it lifted.
Further investigation revealed that the state government had allocated 4,974 KL of kerosene to 51 individuals/distributors, while no records were available for the remaining quantity. When the discrepancies were brought to light, it said that the state government acknowledged in September 2022 that “it had lifted 17,367 KL of SKO, and out of the 12,276 KL allotted for ration cardholders, 11,253.81 KL was lifted, with utilisation certificates furnished for 11,233.79 KL.” It said, “It was also revealed that 4,974 KL was allocated to individuals.”
SBM (Gramin)
The second allegation related to drainage work executed by the PHED under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and which was reported by the CAG for the year ending March 30, 2020. In a recent media release, the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) have also demanded inquiry into the CAG findings.
The AIACO release said that the CAG found that the Executive Engineer, PHED (Urban) Dimapur Division, did not exercise due diligence before passing bills for payment, resulting in fraudulent payment of Rs 90.54 lakh.
It said that the total amount allocated was Rs 5.011 cr, out of which Rs 4.03 crore was earmarked for implementation of SLWM including drainage. The department was said to have constructed drainage in 35 villages. However, Joint Physical Verification (JPV) in February 2021 in 21 villages, out of the 35 villages, found that work was done as per specifications only in 3 villages.
Excess payment
In another case, the AIACO said that the PHED made excess payment of Rs 1.23 crore to a contractor, for constructing Community Sanitary Complexes under the SBM (Gramin), by deviating from the government approved rate. The approved rate was Rs 1,80,000 for construction of CSC and Rs 10,800 for Individual Household Latrines (IHHL).
However, as per the CAG report, the Director, WSSO, PHED, the construction of the CSC was approved at Rs 2.48 lakh per unit, in one village, while deviation from design specification in others resulted in a combined loss of Rs 1.23 cr.
In view of the anomalies detected, the AIACO Nagaland demanded that the allegations be thoroughly investigated by the CBI.
