Health department pulled up for funding outside

BHUBANESWAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled up the Health and Family Welfare Department for parking funds outside the Government account. In March 2007, the Director of Health Services withdrew Rs. 1.87 crore lying unspent in the civil deposit for payment to the Orissa Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) for construction of community health centre buildings under the basic minimum services programme. While granting permission for withdrawal of the amount from the civil deposit, the Government stipulated that the same be released to IDCO only after taking possession of the buildings. The director did not release the amount to IDCO as the latter failed to furnish required information and retained the same in the shape of bank drafts. “The drawal of money from the treasury without making assessment of actual requirement and retention of the same in the shape of bank drafts affected the cash balance of the Government for over three years and led to a loss of interest of Rs. 28 lakh,” the audit report said. The action of the Health department was contrary to the treasury rules and the Finance Department order prohibiting parking of funds outside the Government accounts. The payment to IDCO was made pursuant to its request in April and October, 2007 as evident from the meeting taken by the Additional Secretary of the Department on April 12, 2010, the report said.  The department could not produce any records showing physical possession of the buildings from IDCO and justify the retention of the fund and payment to IDCO after three years.