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Bhubaneswar: The Opposition parties on Monday slammed the Odisha government over the irregularities which have been exposed in the recent audit findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Revenue and Economic sectors in the State.
The report was tabled on the last day of the Budget session of the State legislature on Saturday.
The Opposition took up the issue vociferously to corner the BJD government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the charge.
Accusing the ruling party of indulging in humungous corruption, the BJP said that BJD is directly responsible for the alleged losses in the power sector.
“The State-run power sector undertakings have been incurring huge losses despite infusion of substantial equity by Odisha government post power sector reforms. The State government is also responsible for the irregularities in land allotment by IDCO,” said BJP General Secretary Lekhasri Samantsinghar in a press conference.
According to the CAG report, the accumulated losses suffered by the nine power sector PSUs totaled Rs 4,443.12 crore as against the capital investment of Rs 4,048.67 crore as on March 31, 2019.
“The State government has no respect for democratic values. They have been looting the State exchequer and indulging in corruption as they are in power for a long time now,” she said.
Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo also hit out at the State government hard over the various irregularities as published in the report.
“CAG is a strong authority, established under Article 148, 150 and 151 of the Constitution of India. He is empowered to observe and audit all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of autonomous bodies and corporations substantially financed by the government. Despite repeated flagging by CAG the State Government has failed miserably to collect and spend public money properly. The State administration is answerable to the public about the irregularities published in the report,” said Kanungo.
However, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty refuted the allegation by Opposition parties.
“All the allegations made by Lekhasri are false, baseless and unrealistic. She has no knowledge about CAG and she is bringing the allegations only out of desperation,” said Mohanty.
