Funds Gone Astray: CAG Report Exposes Financial Mishaps in Bihar

A recent CAG report reveals Bihar construction workers were deprived of Covid aid and medical assistance due to technical issues. State universities failed to utilize budget allocations. Financial inefficiencies and administrative delays led to significant losses in World Bank assistance and other vital schemes.

A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has unveiled significant financial mismanagement within Bihar, affecting construction workers and universities. Over 2.6 lakh construction workers have not received crucial COVID-19 aid totaling Rs 52.02 crore due to technical issues.

The CAG's audit highlights that 3,02,476 workers were also deprived of annual medical support worth Rs 90.75 crore. Furthermore, Rs 4,134.21 crore of allocated budget remained unused by state universities, indicative of administrative inefficiencies. The report also outlines the failure to secure Rs 476.90 crore in World Bank support due to project delays.

Other key findings include inadequate inspection of construction sites, lack of updated governance structures within the state, and procedural failures, such as non-linkage of Aadhaar with bank accounts, hampering scheme implementation. The non-production of records raises concerns over accountability and may conceal more extensive financial discrepancies.

(With inputs from agencies.)