Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sep 12: The local branch office of the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (Central), Kolkata conducted a Audit at the office of The Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Hari Nagar, N & M Andaman a few years back for the period since its inception till 31-03-2011 and found various irregularities in the purchases made by the Pradhan, Gram Panchayat in connivance with the then Panchayat Secretary, in the purchases made in respect of Fire Fighting Equipments amounting to Rs. 9, 89, 998/- and refilling of the same amounting to Rs. 23,81,400/- (total Rs. 33,71,398/-). These purchases were found to be against the GFR rules.
Further audit revealed that a wall clock was purchased worth Rs. 80,000/- which was stated to be un-avoidable expenditure by the Panchayat. The team also found that the Children’s Park items and equipments purchased spending Rs. 32,49,000/- , was a wasteful expenditure. The audit team found that the purchase was made by the then Pradhan in connivance with some local suppliers and Co- Operative Societies and in connivance with the then Panchayat Secretary during the year Nov, 2007.
This high expenditure on Children’s park equipments was done by the then Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Hari Nagar without passing any resolution for the purchases in the Gram Sabha meeting and also no advertisement for tender of such huge amount of purchase was published and rather in a single year purchase of park equipments were made to the tune of Rs. 30,50,000/- by splitting the purchase order in different parts, which is against the rules.
Also many other irregularities were also noticed in the quotation for the installation of children’s park equipments.
Many other useless purchases were also made by the Panchayat in 2007, which includes purchase fogging machine and fogging chemicals to the tune of Rs. 10,02,000/- till 31-03-2011.
It has been further stated by the audit party that many irregularities were also found in the stock register maintained at the office.
The audit party further held on scrutiny of the records in respect of the office of the Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Hari Nagar since inception till 31-03-2011 and found huge difference between the goods purchased (as verified from vouchers) and their stock. The audit party also doubted about the genuineness of expenditure on purchase various other items to the tune of Rs. 57,13,408/-.
Sadly till now no legal action has been taken yet against people, who had looted Public Money from Hari Nagar Panchayat. The Lt. Governor has already made it clear that the Administration will follow zero tolerance policy against corruption and Andaman Sheekha hopes that the Administration will soon complete the investigation and take legal action against the power abusers.
