By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 6: After unearthing a number of deficiencies within the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in its report, has revealed that details of officials responsible for remitting revenue collected by the Council were not provided to the audit, despite being requested.
The CAG report for the year ending March 31, 2019, tabled during the winter session of the Council held in December last year, highlighted that revenue amounting to Rs 32.94 lakh collected during 2018-19 was deposited into the Council’s treasury after delays ranging from two to 198 days.
The CAG noted that the delay in depositing the Council’s revenue violated the District Funds Rules, 1952. Furthermore, the retention of Council funds could potentially lead to temporary misappropriation of the Council’s revenue.
The CAG recommended that the Council take appropriate action and assign responsibility for the delay in depositing Rs 32.94 lakh into the treasury.
Responding to the audit observation, the Secretary to the Executive Council, KHADC, stated in August 2022 that, starting from April 2022, monthly collections are being credited into the Council’s savings bank accounts by the last working day of the month in which the collections occur.
The CAG further recommended that the Council implement systems to ensure the timely remittance of receipts to the treasury, thereby reducing the risk of temporary misappropriation of funds due to delays or non-deposit of collected revenue.