CAG report flags INR 2.48 crore spent on vehicles under PMKSY in Nagaland, violating scheme guidelines and rules
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KOHIMA — The department of Water Resources, Nagaland, expended INR 2.48 crore on the procurement of 20 vehicles in violation of operational guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
This was stated in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Social (including Local Government Audit), Economic, General and Revenue Sectors for the year ended March 31, 2023.
PMKSY was launched in 2015–16 by the central government to enhance physical access to water for agriculture and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation. The operational guidelines state that administrative expenses may be met on a pro-rata basis from the programme, not exceeding 5% at each level, to strengthen coordination, planning and technical support.
The guidelines also stipulate that administrative expenditure for coordinating agencies, including payments to consultants, outsourcing of specific activities and recurring employment, may be allowed, but purchase of vehicles is not permitted.
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Audit records show that examination of documents in October 2022 at the office of the chief engineer, Water Resources Department, revealed that the Ministry of Water Resources, government of India, sanctioned INR 231.17 crore during February 2014, July 2018 and October 2019 under a 90:10 funding pattern between the Centre (INR 206.06 crore) and the state (INR 23.11 crore) for implementation of the ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’ (HKKP) component in Nagaland.
The government of India released INR 190.92 crore between December 2014 and February 2020. The state government subsequently released INR 212.13 crore (including its share of INR 21.21 crore) to the Water Resources department between August 2015 and March 2021.
Audit observed that out of the total expenditure of INR 212.13 crore, the department utilised INR 6.35 crore towards administrative expenses, which was within the prescribed 5% limit. However, of this amount, INR 2.48 crore was spent on procurement of 20 vehicles in contravention of the scheme guidelines and state government notifications.
The vehicles procured between 2015 and 2021 included four Mahindra Scorpio, seven Maruti Gypsy, two Toyota Innova, two Mahindra Bolero, and one each of Mahindra XUV-500, Hyundai Creta, Marazzo Marazzo, Tata Harrier and Tata Safari.
The report stated that the expenditure of INR 2.48 crore on vehicles was in clear violation of PMKSY guidelines, which prohibit such purchases without approval from the High Powered Committee.
The department, in its response, stated that the vehicles were procured due to a shortage of vehicles.
The audit recommended that the state government ensure adherence to scheme guidelines and fix responsibility on officials concerned for the violation.