From our Correspondent
SHILLONG: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for the year ending March 31, 2017, has unearthed many irregularities in construction of sports infrastructure at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex in the city.
The CAG report highlighted that three projects – construction of the gallery, accommodation for sportspersons and improvement of the complex – is still in progress even though the date of completion has lapsed by 17-24 months.
The CAG noticed that a sports cafeteria constructed in December, 2016 at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore was lying unutilised. Besides, the lawn tennis courts constructed at a cost of Rs 95.80 lakh was not suitable for as there was water logging in different parts of the courts.
The report also observed that Gymnastic equipment purchased in January 2011 at a cost of Rs 16.14 lakh were not installed but stored at the Gymnasium cum indoor sports hall.
In addition, three out of the six rooms of the multi-training hall constructed in June 2010 at a cost of Rs 66.14 lakh were lying unutilised.
Five rooms below the sitting gallery were being used by five sports associations – Meghalaya Football Association, Meghalaya Archery Association, Meghalaya Athletic Association, Meghalaya Basketball Association and Meghalaya Cricket Association – since May 2007 but the State Sports Council, Meghalaya (SSCM) was yet to enter into an agreement with the associations to fix the rent for use of the premises.
According to the CAG report, the department during 2012-17 spent only 0.18 to 1.48 percent of its plan expenditure on repairs and maintenance of the sports infrastructure.
The CAG also observed that the SSCM during the year 2012-17 received Rs 122.45 crore as grants to meet its administrative expenses and for construction of sports infrastructure.
However it irregularly invested Rs 62.22 crore in mutual funds during 2015-17 and investment in mutual funds are prone to risk and hence should not have been resorted to, the report added.