‘Several beneficiaries had addresses of other States’
*Ordered last year, re-verification yet to be completed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 10: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has detected lack of monitoring and doubtful payments to the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) involved in the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, it has noticed that several beneficiaries had mentioned addresses of other States of the country in the documents submitted for availing the benefit of the scheme.
In its latest report, the supreme audit institution of the country has mentioned that Rs 19.87 crore was paid to NGOs in 20 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for construction of 12,297 IHHLs for identified beneficiaries. However, during audit it came to the fore that IHHLs constructed by NGOs for beneficiaries were not closely monitored to see whether work was executed as per approved specifications as no monitoring reports were on record.
“Instead of making payment in stages as envisaged in empanelment and allotment orders, the payments were made to NGOs in lump-sum. The photographic evidence in support of having closely monitored the physical progress of construction work in stages was not kept on record”, the CAG said.
The audit selected 1,315 cases of IHHLs for collection of data in respect of completion certificates obtained from beneficiaries for passing payments in favour of NGOs and noticed that in respect of 364 IHHLs completion certificates were not on record; in respect of 123 IHHLs completion certificates though signed by beneficiaries were not authenticated by the Urban Local Body authorities and in six cases completion certificates were not signed by beneficiaries.
Though Director Finance, Housing and Urban Development Department stated in August 2022 that payment was released to the NGOs after obtaining requisite certificate from the beneficiaries/JE/ CEO yet the CAG said that the replies were not convincing as no monitoring reports and photographic evidence in support of having closely monitored the physical progress of construction work in stages were on record and payments were made to NGOs in lump-sum.
In Jammu Municipal Corporation, audit noticed that actual site of construction of IHHLs by NGOs was not mentioned in records in respect of 339 beneficiaries. As per records, 331 beneficiaries had addresses of locations falling outside the jurisdiction of JMC and several other beneficiaries had addresses of other States.
On this, the Director Finance of Housing and Urban Development Department stated in August 2022 that re-verification had been initiated by a committee constituted for the purpose and that if any ineligible beneficiary was found the recovery proceedings would be initiated. However, the report is still awaited.
“These lapses on the part of ULB authorities cast doubt over genuineness of construction of IHHLs by NGOs as well as over the genuineness of expenditure incurred on these constructions. Doubtful construction of IHHLs by NGOs was also corroborated by physical verification and beneficiary survey”, the CAG said.
The CAG has further pointed out that out of 94210 selected beneficiaries, 633 beneficiaries stated that their IHHLs were constructed by NGOs. Out of these 633 IHHLs, 453 IHHLs were non-functional, 95 were complete, 16 were left half way and 69 IHHLs were dismantled by beneficiaries.
“Thus, out of 942 selected IHHLs constructed by NGOs, only 95 IHHLs (10 per cent) were found functional and out of 942 selected beneficiaries, 238 beneficiaries stated that NGOs had not constructed their IHHLs but they constructed IHHLs on their own”, the CAG said, adding “out of these 238 beneficiaries, 137 stated that they had received Rs 11.23 lakh out of due amount of Rs 22.86 lakh from the NGOs and out of 942 selected beneficiaries, IHHLs of 66 beneficiaries of JMC were not found constructed and IHHLs of five beneficiaries could not be traced out”.
This indicated that ULB authorities had made payment of Rs 57.17 lakh to NGOs without ensuring actual construction of 325 IHHLs by NGOs rendering the expenditure doubtful. “In addition to 942 randomly selected beneficiaries audit also conducted physical verification and beneficiary survey in respect of 339 beneficiaries whose addresses of locations were shown falling outside JMC jurisdiction and other states. The concerned officials of JMC failed to identify the location of sites where IHHLs had been shown in records as constructed by NGOs”, the CAG said.
“Thus, payment of Rs 59.29 lakh made to NGOs for construction of these 339 IHHLs was doubtful which too had resulted due to non-conducting of house-to-house survey for identification of beneficiaries”, the audit said, adding “CAO, JMC stated in March 2022 that beneficiaries had provided only copy of Aadhaar Card and the present addresses of beneficiaries were not available with JMC”.
Pointing out that overall there was doubtful payment of Rs 116.46 lakh made to the NGOs in respect of 664 cases, the CAG has stressed that all such cases of doubtful payment should be reviewed for fixing the responsibility and effecting the recoveries from the responsible parties.
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