Vouchers in support of claimed expenses missing: CAG report

SHILLONG, March 8: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for the year ending March 31, 2014, has detected irregularities in the expenditure of discretionary grants in the KHADC.
As per the report, which was tabled in the recently concluded budget session of the KHADC, Rs 14.50 lakh was sanctioned as discretionary grants to Council members with stipulation that necessary Utilisation Certificate (UCs) be submitted against the claim.
The CAG stated that the sanction, however, had no stipulation regarding furnishing of necessary vouchers in the support of the expenditure claimed.
“Scrutiny of the records revealed that during 2013-2014, against the sanction, 29 members submitted claims with KHADC for release of Rs 14.50 lakh as discretionary grants. The claims were, however, submitted together with the UCs for the amount claimed on the same date without any support vouchers against the expenditure incurred,” the CAG stated in its report.
Secretary of the Executive Committee in the KHADC made payment of Rs 14.50 lakh as discretionary grants without any supporting vouchers,  the CAG revealed. It further observed that in the absence of necessary vouchers evidencing proper utilisation of grants, the veracity of expenditure of Rs 14.50 lakh incurred out of KHADC’s fund could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, as per the report for the year ending March 31, 2015, the KHADC sanctioned Rs 13.75 lakh as discretionary grants during 2014-2015 to its members.
Again, the sanction had no stipulation regarding furnishing of necessary vouchers in support of the expenditure claimed, the CAG report said.
Scrutiny of the records revealed that during 2014-2015 against the sanction, 28 members submitted claims with KHADC for release of Rs 13.75 lakh as discretionary grants. “The claims were, however, submitted together with the UCs for the amount claimed on the same date without any support vouchers against the expenditure incurred,” the CAG stated in the report.
“No comments were offered by the council on the audit observation. The council should have clearly defined objectives and activities that need to be taken up by the members for utilisation of discretionary grants. Council may also maintain proper accounts along with relevant supporting documents to ensure utilisation of DG for bonafide purposes,” the CAG stated in the report.