MC has no record of over Rs51 cr given to carry out public works

The municipal corporation (MC) has failed to keep a proper documentation of over Rs51 crore of tax

The municipal corporation (MC) has failed to keep a proper documentation of over Rs51 crore of tax payers money paid to several companies through its officials for purchasing various water tankers, articles and organising events in the past two years. The matter had come to the fore during the MC audit report of 2014-15 submitted to MC commissioner B Purushartha last week.

Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (HT FILE PHOTO)

The report pointed out that a total of 111 officials took advance money for buying articles and organising events, but never submitted their bills. Moreover, there is no set policy regarding withdrawal of advances and adjustments, which has resulted in piling up of outstanding advances, finds the report.

However, councillors have raised fingers on the audit report itself, saying it was the duty of the audit department to check and enquire about the advances they made.

Nominated councillor Surinder Bahga said, “Despite calling it official apathy, I will say it’s the audit department that has been caught sleeping. The MC officials are easily accessible, anytime. What was the reason that the internal audit officers did not check the status of the advance money given to these officials.” However, MC commissioner B Purushartha could not be contacted for comments. Cash book not maintained The report also found that the civic body had failed to maintain its cash book. “The cash resisters have not been maintained on monthly-basis and only entries of income and expenditure have been entered,” stated the report.