The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India slammed the State government for tardy progress in the execution of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and said the government was able to provide 55 litres per capita per day to only 14 per cent of the rural population as against the target of 50 per cent.
The report of CAG of India on Local Bodies for the year 2016 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. It said that the expenditure of ₹14.45 crore incurred on two projects — multi-village scheme for Salikyapur and nine other villages in Devadurga taluk of Raichur district and for Kinnigoli and 17 other villages of Mangaluru taluk in Dakshina Kannada district —was rendered unfruitful due to inordinate delays in completion of projects.
The report said rainwater harvesting was not given the due priority as only 10 per cent out of targeted 99 works were executed during 2012-13 - 2015-16.
Water testing laboratories were not established in 76 out of 176 taluks in the State. The functioning of the taluk and district laboratories were deficient as the tests for all envisaged parameters, including those for bacteria, were not being conducted.
Moreover, as against the total 9,519 water purification units sanctioned (2012-13 to 2015-16) for the state, only 5941 units (62 per cent ) were commissioned. The State had also lost Central government grants of ₹ 65.68 crore during the period due to non-fulfilment of the conditions prescribed by the Centre, the CAG said.
Taxes
The absence of detailed and exhaustive survey by the Urban Local bodies (ULBs) resulted in many of the properties remaining outside the tax net. As against the total demand of ₹521.53 crore in 24 ULBs during 2013-14 and 2015-16 was ₹488.19 crore, leaving ₹33.34 crore which was yet to be collected.
As per the database of Municipal Reforms Cell, a total of 3,90,651 properties (38 per cent) in 23 ULBs remained unassessed, the report said.
The failure of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ballari Zilla Panchayat to utilize ₹ 13.83 crore meant for emergency works in 16 rehabilitated villages deprived these villages of basic infrastructure for more than five years.
