CAG finds 12 departments in Nagaland keeping funds in civil deposits

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 20 (EMN): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India stated that an amount of INR 44.75 crore sanctioned to 12 departments during 2018-19 was lying in civil deposits and retained outside the government account, which showed “poor financial management” by the state government as well as indicated that the funds were not immediately required for utilisation.

It, however, said that the state government provided its share to various departments and agencies for implementation of centrally-sponsored and state schemes.

The funds (INR 44.75 crore) drawn by the 12 departments and kept in civil deposits were shown as utilised by respective DDOs. Thus, the expenditure of the respective years were inflated to that extant without actual expenditure having been incurred under the programmes/schemes, in contravention of financial rule, the CAG report stated.

“Paying interest at higher rates on borrowings while keeping amounts in civil deposits which did not bear any interest showed poor cash and financial management by the state government,” it added.

The 12 departments that kept funds in civil deposits, according to the CAG report, are: New and Renewable Energy (INR 1.77 cr.); Planning and Coordination (INR 18.85 cr.); Nagaland State Transport (INR 4.77 cr.); Youth Resources and Sports (INR 2.23 cr.); Nagaland State Lotteries (INR 0.15 cr.); Motor Vehicle Transport (INR 0.88 cr.); Water Resource (INR 0.60 cr.); Directorate of Evaluation (INR 0.23 cr.); Election (INR 1 cr.); Land Resources (INR 3.27 cr.); Agriculture (INR 10 cr.); and Art and Culture (INR 1 cr.).