AGARTALA, January 17 (TIWN): The report of the comptroller and auditor general of India revealed financial loss of Rs. 14.10 crore in the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings). It is to be mention here that the concerned authorities are in deep slumber regarding the issue.According to the report of the comptroller and auditor general of India, for the state of Tripura the government of India sanctioned 26 projects under Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) (estimated cost Rs. 122.69 crore) and 1 project (estimated cost Rs. 195 crore) under North Eastern Council (NEC) during 2008-13. Out of the 26 projects , the project proposals of 23 projects were sent during 2004-05 by the government of Tripura. The approved Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) projects mainly consisted of replacement of existing semi-permanent type bridges with reinforced cement concrete bridges (23) and improvement /widening of roads (3).The performance audit was conducted between May and September 2013 and covered the implementation of ‘Roads and Bridges’ projects under NLCPR and NEC during 2008-09 to 2012-13.

 Out of total 26 projects sanctioned Under NLCPR, 15 projects were selected for detailed examination by Audit based on Probability Proportional to Size without Replacement (PPSWOR) method. The approved cost of 15 projects was Rs. 47.09 crore (Bridge: Rs. 36.41 crore, Road: Rs. 10.68 crore) against which Rs 37.53 crore was released (GOI: Rs. 35.18 crore and Government of Tripura Rs. 2.35 crore) during the period covered by audit. For NEC projects , one project sanctioned by GOI during 2010 and three other projects sanctioned prior to 2008-09 but executed during-2013 were selected by Audit.

After retention of project under NLCPR by the GOI, the state government was required to submit detailed project report (DPR) within two months which were delayed. As prescribed by GOI, the DPRs were to include socio-economic feasibility report and technical and economic viability clearly laying down year-wise phasing of input, project monitoring indicators, quarterly and year-wise physical output to be achieved, CPM and PERT chart, project implementation schedule and all regulatory and statutory clearances.

Scrutiny revealed that none of the DPRs of 15 projects examined by Audit had included the prescribed generic details like, CPM and PERT chart, year-wise phasing of input, project monitoring indicators, quarterly and year-wise physical output to be achieved, project implementation schedule and all regulatory and statutory clearance etc.

Though the NEC did not prescribe any specific guidelines for preparation of DPRs, the planning and monitoring mechanism as prescribed by NLCPR was equally vital for NEC projects also. Audit observed that none of the DPRs of four selected projects of NEC contained those details.