Bihar failed to submit utilisation certificates of projects worth over ₹70,000 crore: CAG
₹ 70,000 crore: CAG
The report of the CAG on State Finances for the year 2023-24 was tabled in the state assembly on Thursday.
"Despite the requirement of submitting UCs within the stipulated time period, 49,649 outstanding UCs of ₹70,877.61 crore were not received by the Accountant General , Bihar, as on March 31, 2024," it said.
In the absence of UCs, there is no assurance that funds disbursed have been used for the intended purpose, the report said.
"Moreover, high pendency of UCs is fraught with the risk of embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of funds," it said.
Of the total ₹70,877.61 crore, ₹14,452.38 crore pertained to the period up to 2016-17.
The top five defaulting departments are Panchayati Raj , Education , Urban Development , Rural Development and Agriculture , the report said.
The CAG noted that despite the requirement of submitting Detailed Contingent Bills against the advance money withdrawn through Abstract Contingent Bills, DC bills against 22,130 AC bills of ₹9,205.76 crore were pending for submission.
"Non-submission of DC bills within the prescribed period breaches financial discipline and enhances the risk of misappropriation of public money," it said.
For the financial year 2023-24, the total budget of Bihar was ₹3.26 lakh crore, the CAG said, noting that the state spent only ₹2.60 lakh crore or 79.92 per cent of the total budget.
"The State surrendered only ₹23,875.55 crore of its total savings of ₹65,512.05 crore. During the financial year 2023-24, the Liabilities of the State increased by 12.34 per cent over the previous year," it said.
"Internal debt contributed 59.26 per cent of the total outstanding liabilities of the State. Net liabilities under Internal Debt increased by 13.51 per cent , over the previous year," the report added.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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