CWG lapses: Prasar Bharati sets up empowered panel

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Stung by the strong indictmentby Shunglu committee probing alleged financial irregularitiesin award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games, PrasarBharati today set up a Special Empowered Committee to addressthe failures and pinpoint responsibility.

The members of the committee would be Prasar Bharatiboard Chairperson Mrinal Pande and nominated member MuzaffarAli, the public broadcaster decided after its board meetinghere.

"The committee will take stern steps to address thecauses of failures and pinpoint responsibility. Its primaryaim will be to restore the morale of the Prasar Bharatiemployees as also its public image," the public broadcastersaid in a release.

The SEC is also allowed to engage outside expertise toassist in coming to a conclusion, it said.

In other decisions taken at the meeting, the PB boardformed a special committee to address issues related tofinancial procedures and accounting systems.

The board directed setting up of a Special EmpoweredCommittee (SEC) with two Board Members as well as one specialNominee of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting withknowledge of financial procedures to address these concerns.

The SEC will examine and address the current situationand exercise a wide range of financial powers on behalf of theBoard. It would give special attention to timelinesestablished for disposal of cases.

Expressing deep concern over the position of accountsand financial processes in the organisation, it said, itcalled upon the member (Finance) to follow up and complete allformalities connected with maintenance of accounts andcompilation of statements, reports etc., in accordance withthe established principles of law, and accepted accountingprinciples.

Immediate steps were also initiated by the Board forentrusting of qualified firm/firms of chartered accountantwith the task of assisting the Prasar Bharati.

This activity is to be completed at the earliest andthe future course of action will be decided thereafter, thestatement said.

In this regard, the Board was also guided by therepeated concerns expressed by various sections within PrasarBharati, in particular, of the Financial Wing for speedyaction. .