CAG indicts IGNCA for wasteful expenditure on surplus staff

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The CAG has passed severe strictures against Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) for wasteful expenditure on pay and allowances of surplus staff.

In his report on Autonomous Bodies for the year ended March 2007 tabled in Parliament today, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India said employment and retention of staff in the building project cell in IGNCA despite no work resulted in wasteful expenditure on pay and allowances of Rs 89.69 lakh between 2003-04 and April 2007.

He said examination of documents disclosed that despite cessation of all construction activities, IGNCA continued to operate a building project cell and employed large number of staff leading to waste of Rs 89.69 lakh between 2003-04 and April 2007 on their pay and allowances.

The CAG said the construction work of the building project of IGNCA was suspended in November 2000 after completion of only one building out of eight planned in 1987 due to non-availability of funds.

The IGNCA executive committee decided in April 2002 that the remaining work would be entrusted to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

The executive committee further decided in September 2002 to set up a building project cell headed by a senior consultant with the sanctioned strength of 17, which consisted of 14 group 'C' and 'D' grade to assist the executive committee on all technical matters connected with the project and coordinate with the CPWD during taking over and thereafter.

The remaining construction work of the building project has not started and the works have not been handed over to the CPWD as of May 2007, the report said.

MORE UNI AG MSJ BD1850