AGARTALA, January 18 (TIWN): The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed failure in planning by the Department led to non-completion of nine staff quarters in Mungaikami RD Block even after five years from the scheduled date of completion and the expenditure of Rs. 61.69 lakh incurred on them had become wasteful.According to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, under the state plan major works in 2008-09, the rural development department placed (July 2008) Rs. 30 lakh with District Magistrate and Collector, West Tripura for construction of nine staff quarters during 2008-09 under Mungaikami RD Block against the tentative requirement (May 2008) the amount with the Block Development Officer (BDO), Mungaikami RD Block. Subsequently, the Department placed Rs. 35 lakh under state plan for maintenance and minor works during 2009-10.

Scrutiny (March 2013) of records of the BDO revealed that the works were taken up departmentally through three implementing officers (IOs). As per the work order issued (September 2008) to the IOs the revised estimated cost of nine staff quarters was Rs. 93.22 lakh and the works were to be completed within 90 days i.e. by December 2008. No Measurement Book (MB) relating to the works was maintained and as such the actual date(s) of commencement of the works and their chronological process were not available. However, it was seen that out of advance of Rs. 63.01 lakh given to the IOs during August 2008 to March 2010, Rs. 61.69 lakh was spent on the works upto March 2010. But none of the works was completed even after a lapse of more than five years from the scheduled date of completion and all the works remained suspended midway for want of funds.

Scrutiny further revealed that due to slow progress of the works, the estimated cost of the quarters was being revised from time to time from Rs. 93.22 lakh in August 2008 to Rs. 1.10 crore in August 2011.