The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India have asked the Mizoram government to book the defaulters involved in misappropriation, loss and theft of public money worth over Rs 400 lakh.
The CAG report tabled in the state assembly by Chief Minister Zoramthanga on September 7 revealed that there have been several cases of misappropriation, loss and theft of public money in three government offices or departments during the financial year 2020-21 amounting to Rs.435.21 lakh.
Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Siaha district (Rs.2.50 lakh), Food-Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department (Rs.431.33 lakh) and Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department (Rs.1.38 lakh), the report said.
The CAG's State Finance Audit Report for the year ending March 2021 said, "The State Government should make all efforts to book the defaulters and also strengthen the internal control mechanism to ensure that Such cases should not go undetected".
The central agency also asked the state government to ensure timely submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) of grants to the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the southern part of the state. The CAG stated that a total of Rs. 172.17 crores given to the three ADCs for the period up to March 2020 was not submitted to the Principal Accountant General by the three entities.
In addition, 11 annual accounts of three ADCs and two government bodies which were up for audit till 2020-21 were yet to be submitted. Similarly, 21 annual accounts of three departmental undertakings were yet to be received, in which 28 abstract contingency bills amounting to Rs. 85.49 crores relating to previous years were pending, the report said.