The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report tabled in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday underlined that the work done under Mukhya Mantri Nishchaya Yojna has not been “satisfactory”.

The CAG report for the year that ended on March 31, 2018-19, tabled on the State Assembly floor stated that the “progress of works under Mukhya Mantri Nischaya Yojna was not satisfactory as only 15% and 24% was completed in test checked in Gram Panchayats and Municipalities, respectively”.

The report also stated “at State-level only 9% to 41% work completed”.

The Mukhya Mantri Nishchaya Yojna is considered as CM Nitish Kumar’s ambitious programme.

Medical sectors

The report also highlighted shortfalls and deficiencies in medical sector in Bihar. “Against construction of 12 medical colleges, including a dental college, taken during 2006-07 to 2016-17, only two colleges became functional till 2018. Construction of only two nursing institutes could be completed till 2018 against 61 planned. The Bihar government did not take effective efforts to increase seats of existing medical colleges,” said the report.

It has also underlined “shortage of teaching and non-teaching staffs, significant deficiencies in infrastructure and shortage of medical equipment” in medical colleges in the State.

“Only 75% amount was spent under the plan head during 2013-18, which is attributable to poor progress of construction works taken up under different schemes of State government,” it added.

The CAG report also said: “Works valued at Rs. 424.67 crore were started without obtaining Technical Sanction in 13 packages and an excess payment of Rs. 3.57 crore was made on road marking work under three packages in the Road division. Also, an excess payment of Rs. 99.05 lakh was made on PM work under Road Division, Molinari and Sitamarhi.”

Excess payment

“Irregular sanction of lead by road in place of rail, led to excess payment of Rs. 12.04 crore,” it added.

The report further highlighted “additional burden on State Exchequer by action of Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency to execute agreement with the agency without taking Performance Guarantee and not taking any legal action to recover PG led to additional financial burden of Rs. 5.93 crore on State Exchequer due to re-tendering”.

It also underlined “misappropriation of municipal revenue and fraudulent payment” in the department.

While making reference of “incomplete projects”, the CAG report said: “A total 68 projects were due for completion during the period 2011-12 to 2018-19. Since the details of all 68 projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 790.99 crore were not furnished by the departments, their revised cost was not exhibited in the Finance Accounts and was thus not ascertainable”.