CAG raps BSF for spending Rs 55 lakh on grounded copter
10 Jul 2009, 0013 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the Border Security Force (BSF) for spending over Rs 55 lakh for operation and maintenance of one of its helicopters even though it had become inoperative and grounded due to an accident.
It has also rapped the border guarding force for the unauthorised attachment of personnel at its officers' mess by diverting them from their field units "in violation of orders" of the home ministry -- resulting in an unauthorised expenditure of Rs 1.64 crore during April 2004 to July 2008 on their pay and allowances.
The Intelligence Bureau has also come under the scrutiny of the country's apex auditor in its latest report, tabled in Parliament during the ongoing budget session. It pulled up IB for the extra expenditure of Rs 59.61 lakh on the purchase of a plot in Uttar Pradesh.
Referring to BSF's case, CAG said: "Negligence of the BSF in making continued payment, overlooking the terms of the agreement even after the helicopter became inoperative due to an accident, resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs 55.65 lakh."
BSF entered into an agreement with M/s SAPL in July 2006 for the operation and maintenance of one Cheetah and one Chetak helicopter owned by it. The Cheetah helicopter met with an accident in September 2006 and remained grounded for want of repairs. BSF got the helicopter inspected by an SAPL engineer in September 2006 but delayed the dispatch of damaged parts to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore, by two months.
But BSF continued to make payments for operation and maintenance of the helicopter to SAPL till October 2007, even though the chopper was not fit for use due to the damage suffered in the accident.
Highlighting the case of IB, the CAG said: "IB purchased a plot measuring 1,600 square metres for its office building at Varanasi from Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board (UPHDB) in September 2006 at a total cost of Rs 1.95 crore. Audit examination disclosed that the cost included an extra expenditure of Rs 59.61 lakh."
The apex auditor said the terms of allotment of UPHDB indicated that the offer would be automatically cancelled if the payment was not made by February 28, 2005.
The IB headquarters, however, did not even initiate the proposal by the due date. This led to cancellation of the offer by UPHDB, leading to the loss to the government exchequer.
CAG raps BSF for spending Rs 55 lakh on grounded copter - India - The Times of India
10 Jul 2009, 0013 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the Border Security Force (BSF) for spending over Rs 55 lakh for operation and maintenance of one of its helicopters even though it had become inoperative and grounded due to an accident.
It has also rapped the border guarding force for the unauthorised attachment of personnel at its officers' mess by diverting them from their field units "in violation of orders" of the home ministry -- resulting in an unauthorised expenditure of Rs 1.64 crore during April 2004 to July 2008 on their pay and allowances.
The Intelligence Bureau has also come under the scrutiny of the country's apex auditor in its latest report, tabled in Parliament during the ongoing budget session. It pulled up IB for the extra expenditure of Rs 59.61 lakh on the purchase of a plot in Uttar Pradesh.
Referring to BSF's case, CAG said: "Negligence of the BSF in making continued payment, overlooking the terms of the agreement even after the helicopter became inoperative due to an accident, resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs 55.65 lakh."
BSF entered into an agreement with M/s SAPL in July 2006 for the operation and maintenance of one Cheetah and one Chetak helicopter owned by it. The Cheetah helicopter met with an accident in September 2006 and remained grounded for want of repairs. BSF got the helicopter inspected by an SAPL engineer in September 2006 but delayed the dispatch of damaged parts to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore, by two months.
But BSF continued to make payments for operation and maintenance of the helicopter to SAPL till October 2007, even though the chopper was not fit for use due to the damage suffered in the accident.
Highlighting the case of IB, the CAG said: "IB purchased a plot measuring 1,600 square metres for its office building at Varanasi from Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board (UPHDB) in September 2006 at a total cost of Rs 1.95 crore. Audit examination disclosed that the cost included an extra expenditure of Rs 59.61 lakh."
The apex auditor said the terms of allotment of UPHDB indicated that the offer would be automatically cancelled if the payment was not made by February 28, 2005.
The IB headquarters, however, did not even initiate the proposal by the due date. This led to cancellation of the offer by UPHDB, leading to the loss to the government exchequer.
CAG raps BSF for spending Rs 55 lakh on grounded copter - India - The Times of India
