The Auditor General Sindh has detected misuse of funds of Rs 402.733 million in the Irrigation and Power Department, according to an audit report on fiscal year 2004-05 which was available here on Wednesday. The audit team, headed by Assistant Director Jamil Ahmed and comprising Islamuddin, Noorul Islam, M Zaheer and Hidayatullah conducted the verification of record from September 04 to 20, 2008 and found misuse of funds on a large scale.
The committee, in its findings, observed that workshop Division SCARP- Khairpur failed to adjust the advances of Rs 13.706 funds. About Guddu Barrage Division-Kashmore, it states that public works advance of Rs 5.604 million remained unadjusted. However, the concerned office said that Rs 2.522 million had already been taken in DP 9.31 against AEN Salahuddin Abbasi and Rs 3.282 million were also taken DP 1.7 (7) in for the year 2001-02. The BS Feeder Division Kashmore also failed to adjust Rs 4.120 million advances, the report says, although the concerned office made efforts to furnish the details to adjust the amount.
An amount of Rs 0.120 million of Kandhkot Division Kashmore could not be adjusted. In this connection, the letter of the office of Director General Audit Sindh, Karachi vide letter No DGA/DP-92-93/94 dated 24-10-2001 was produced, which shows that previously the advances were not adjusted. The concerned office of Irrigation West Division Khairpur produced the record of Rs 19.879 million through transfer entry and Rs 5.073 million through various bills.
The office of Guddu Barrage Mechanical Division Sukkur showed the adjustments of payment of Rs 1.656 million through transfer entries dated 31-01-2005 and 28-02-2007. The office of Sakro Irrigation Division, Mirpur Sakro produced the record of adjustment on public works advances of Rs 0.271 million out of a total Rs 0.367 million through transfer entry dated 29-9-2001.
However, the remaining balance of Rs 0.096 million was not adjusted. The office of Jamrao Canal Mirpurkhas produced the record of adjustment on public works advances of Rs 1.100 million through transfer entry and the same was verified. The office of Central Sindh Mechanical Division Jamshoro made efforts to adjust Rs 280.576 million funds, however the advances were not adjusted.
The concerned office of Sukkur Barrage Division, furnished the details but it had failed to adjust the advances of Rs 15.186 million. The office of Phuleli Canal Division, Badin at Hyderabad submitted the details of adjustment accounts and stated that debit bills were received from the office of Feeder Division, Hyderabad. But it did not produce the original record of adjustment of Rs 3.288 million.
The authorities of Hala Irrigation Division, produced only the record of recovered amount of Rs 1.805 million through transfer entries dated 30-10-2004 and 15-12-2005. The remaining amount of Rs 1.889 million, out of total Rs 3.694 million, was not adjusted. The staff of Upper Pinvari Division Hyderabad produced the record of recovered amount of Rs 17,934 from officials.
But no details of Rs 1.127 million funds were produced. The office of Lower Pinvari Division, Sujawal produced the record of adjustment of Rs 1.403 million out of a total Rs 1.992 million, but it was not adjusted through transfer entry. The office of Rice Canal Division Larkana produced the record of recovered/adjustment of Rs 22,643 from retired officers and Rs 6,237 written off against deceased officers by Chief Engineer on 31-1-2007.
Rs 29,265 written off against deceased officer/official by Secretary on 6-2-2007 and details of Rs 0.446 million submitted to Chief Minister Sindh for further action on 9-2-2007. However, the management did not furnish the original record of Rs 0.504 million funds. The office of Research Division Karachi submitted their reports regarding adjustment/write off of the advances and produced a copy of letter No SAC G/55/522 dated 6-9-2008 as the advance was placed against IRC Division and Field Irrigation Division, Hyderabad.
Interestingly both the division were abolished in 1991 and the authorities failed to give record of Rs 0.170 million The office of RBOD Project Division-II furnished the details of Rs 0.987 million through transfer entry dated 28-2-2007 and the same was verified.