Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has come down heavily on the Odisha government and asked it to refrain from spending on its recently-launched Biju Yuva Vahini (BYV) programme if it wants deferment of audit.

“As your department has expressed inability to cooperate with audit even for two weeks due to numerous engagements till after the Hockey World Cup (November/December 2018), we would assume that the department would not be able to also give appropriate attention for implementation of the scheme for the period,” a letter from the Deputy Accountant General, Jyoti Chaurasia to the Sports and Youth Affairs department stated.

The deputy AG stated that it is advisable that the department refrains from incurring any expenditure under the programme, confirming prudence and propriety of the expenditure being committed on the scheme.

The CAG has noted that the audit of the scheme was proposed on the request of some legislators of Odisha Legislative Assembly and following concerns that public funds meant for the scheme are being utilised for promoting the interests of the ruling party rather than serving public purposes.

The BJP meanwhile has turned the heat on the state government over the issue. Earlier, the saffron party which had sought the Orissa High Court’s intervention in the matter has now decided to apprise the court about the CAG noting.

“As the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary are both incapable, question arises who is actually running the government. We will not let the state government even breathe. When leaders like Sheila Dikshit, Suresh Kalmadi, Kanimojhi and D Raja could not escape the CAG report, Naveen babu, you and your ‘asadhu’ team will have to suffer like them,” BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said.

Earlier yesterday the CAG in its performance and compliance audit of several projects and schemes, revealed several irregularities in general and social sectors including losses of around Rs 155 crore to the State exchequer due to improper management of PMGSY.

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