The authorities of Auqaf department have committed irregularities of Rs 25.210 million under the head of development works on 10 Darghas (Shrines) and mosques, besides embezzling more than Rs 100 million in various other projects and heads, Business Recorder learnt on Monday.
The irregularities were pointed out to the department in August and December 2011 but no reply was received till finalisation of this report. The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meeting was not convened by the department despite request to PAO. According to the audit report of the department for FY 2011-12, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder, Executive Engineer, Auqaf, Hyderabad, a sub-ordinate office of Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat & Ushr department paid Rs 4.575 million mobilisation advance during the financial year 2009-10. The amount of advance inclusive of interest on reducing balances were required to be recovered. But out the amount just Rs 2.700 million was recovered, leaving a balance of Rs 1 .875 million which could not be recovered till date.
The Secretary, Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat & Ushr department could not safeguard government assets, as government vehicle, (registration no: GS-6874) valuing Rs 1.269 million was not available in the office and was being misused in some other offices, the report added.
The Executive Engineer, Auqaf incurred expenditure of Rs 10.125 million during the year 2010-11 without budget provision. The management failed to watch the laid down procedures. The above lapse on the part of management indicates improper watch, and absence of systemic internal control.
The Secretary, Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat & Ushr department had sanctioned honorarium of Rs 0.270 million to various officers above the rank of Section Officers and equivalent in violation of rules. The Executive Engineer, Auqaf incurred expenditure of Rs 92.955 million on the work "Repair/Development work at Dargah Sheikh Abdul Wahid Shah Jilani, Hyderabad" without sanction of revised technical estimates and revised administrative approval from the competent authority. The Secretary, Auqaf, incurred expenditure of Rs 1.130 million without inviting tenders in violation of rules.
The Secretary of the department incurred expenditure of Rs 0.436 million on purchase of various articles during the financial years 2007-2008 to 20 10-201 1 but the same were not accounted for in the relevant stock registers. The management did not observe the rules and procedures, which reflected lack of internal controls and financial discipline and chances of misuse of public funds cannot be ruled out, the report added. The irregularity was pointed out to the department in August and December 2011 but no reply was received till finalisation of this report, the report concluded.
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