Mail News Service
Imphal, July 18: As per norms, the actual cost incurred in transportation of foodgrains nearest FCI godown to the school will be reimbursed by Gol subject to ceiling of Rs 100 per quintal w.e.f. 16 June 2006. In September 2007, the ceiling raised to Rs 125 per quintal. In November 2009, GoM fixed new rate different districts ranging from Rs 72 per quintal to Rs 250 per quintal effective from April 2009. Thereafter, Gol directed that transport; assistance from December 2009 would be admissible at the rate prevalent under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State in place of flat rate.
Test-check of records at the Directorate revealed that an amount Rs 1.91 was paid for transportation of 16,707.757 MT of foodgrains during 2006-10 according to maximum ceiling without restricting the same to the actual cost incurred.
The rate at which transportation cost was paid is applicable only when foodgrains was lifted from FCI godown and delivered at schools. Details of transportation cost for foodgrains lifted during 2010-11 though called for was not furnished.
During test-check of records at district level, it was seen that foodgrains first lifted from FCI godown to the MDM godown maintained by respective ZEOs. Further, headmasters of the schools visited by Audit in the three sampled districts stated that they make their own arrangements to lift MDM foodgrains from the godown maintained by respective ZEOs. In view of these, the expenditure incurred as transports cost of foodgrains was not justified.
Based on quantity of foodgrains lifted by each district during 2006-1073 and the distance between each Zonal MDM godown and the nearest FCI godown as recorded by the Department, audit worked out the admissible cost of transportation of foodgrains between FCI godown and the Zonal godown. Thus, benchmarking on PDS rate prevailing in February 2011 , the admissible cost for transporting foodgrains worked out to Rs 30.55 lakh only. Even if the transportation cost was paid at FCI’s contract rate of Rs 6.82/MT/Km prevailing as on February 2011, admissible transportation cost should have been only Rs 52.79 lakh. Thus, there was an excess payment of not less than Rs 1.39 crore75 on transportation of foodgrains.
The Department (January 2012) stated that steps would be initiated to ensure delivery to schools in coordination with the concerned Deputy Commissioners as they have been entrusted with lifting of foodgrains under the scheme from 2009-10 onwards. The reply is silent about the huge leakage of public fund which severely hampered the scheme implementation as some headmasters had to resort to selling part of their allotted foodgrains to meet the cost of transportation.
More than sufficient foodgrains for buffer stock was lifted during 2010-11. It was also seen from records of the Directorate that foodgrains for first quarter of 2011-12 was also lifted as on date of audit (July 2011). Thus at the end of first quarter of 2011-12, foodgrains stock equivalent to the buffer stock should have been available as balance. However, scrutiny of records at the Directorate and districts revealed huge quantity of unaccounted foodgrains .
-check of records of the ZEO Ukhrul revealed that 849.165 MT of foodgrains was lifted from FCI, Ukhrul during April 2010 to June 2011. Foodgrains allocated for July-September 2011 was yet to be lifted.
This was distributed between the ZEO and the Autonomous District Council (ADC) based on the enrolment as recorded by DISE in the schools under their respective administrative control. Out of their share of foodgrains, the ADC, Ukhrul had issued 231.884 MT of foodgrains to 159 schools76 under their administrative control between April 1, 2010 to September 18, 2011.
Further, audit calculated77 that approximately 389.408 MT of foodgrains was issued to 120 schools78 under the administrative control of ZEO Ukhrul during the same period. Thus there should have been balance stock of 227.873 MT (849.165 MT-231.884 MT-389.408 MT). However, on joint verification with the concerned officers, the actual foodgrains stock was found to be only 68.40 MT79 as on date of an (September 2011). Therefore, 159.473 MT (227.873 MT-68.40 MT) foodgrains lifted for implementing MDM in Ukhrul District could not accounted for.
-check of records ZEO Zone-IV, Bishnupur revealed that against 580.685 MT of foodgra lifted from the period April 2010 to June 2011, only 502.657 MT was repor as utilised as of June 2011. As such, there should be 78.028 MT (580.685 N 502.657 MT) in stock as on June 2011. However, stock balance as per the for the quarter ending June 2011 was nil. The ZEO confirmed this stating 1 they do not have any foodgrains stock as they were yet to lift the allotment the second quarter of 2011-12. Thus, 78.028 MT of foodgrains could not accounted for.
The remaining seven districts had reported utilization of 2,887.393 MT during October 2010 to June 2i out of 4,249.656 MT lifted by them during the period. Thus, there should stock balance of 1,362.263 MT. However, the stock balance reported in UCs was only 798.170 MT leaving 564.093 MT (1,362.263 MT-798.170 of foodgrains unaccounted.
Test-check of records of ZEO Zone-II, Imphal East revealed that M/S Jai Hanuman Carrier (contractor) was authorized by the Deputy Commissioner of the district transport MDM foodgrains from FCI godown to the beneficiary schools, contract agreement forbids the contractor from transhipment or offloading midway from the loading point to the stores identified by the department without prior permission and approval of the Deputy Commissioner. Howe it was seen that 142.802 MT of foodgrains for July to December 2009 kept in the contractor’s godown based on an undertaking signed (Septem October 2009) between the contractor and an official of the Zonal Office.
Neither approval of higher authority for this arrangement was obtained there were records to prove that it was eventually given to the schools couL shown to audit.
Thus, altogether whereabouts of 944.396 MT81 of foodgrains valued at Rs 53 lakh could not be vouched. This situation is fraught with the risk of pilferage of unaccounted stock of foodgrains and/or misappropriation of funds repo to be spent on procurement.
The Department (January 2012) did not give specific reply to a observation on suspected misappropriation of foodgrains as highlighted .
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/foodgrains-misappropriated-in-edn-deptt-cag/
