CAG raps OCAC over its operations

Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) has raised questions over the functioning and unnecessary expenses of Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).

CAG conducted an audit of six projects undertaken by OCAC which operates as the State government’s Information and Technology directorate.

In its report, CAG has highlighted that without proper identification of software needs and requirements of various departments and users, OCAC has proceeded with the implementation of the projects.

Due to lack of such prior estimation, a lot of projects have suffered cost and time overruns. CAG has cited the example of OSWAS project launched in 2008 under the e-Governance project to streamline the operations at the State Secretariat and make it more effective.

Though the deadline for completion was 2013, due to lack of proper analysis of needs and requirements in the beginning, the project is yet to be completed.

Moreover, this project has seen a cost overrun to the tune of Rs 3.44 crore. Similarly, under the Punarbas project aimed at automation the land acquisition process of the Revenue department, the software was developed without studying the requirements. As a result, the software was not accepted by the department resulting in a total loss of Rs 1.29 crore.