Manipur tops NE in outstanding UCs: Serto Kom
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 05 2023:
Manipur tops the North Eastern states in non-submission of outstanding Utilisation Certificates (UCs) with 6,664 numbers of UCs amounting to Rs 11,331.76 crore pending in respect of 35 departments in 2019-20, said social researcher Serto Tondana Kom.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club, here, on Sunday, Serto Kom said the state's Auditor General of Account Finance Report-2022, which encompassed state audit report till March 2021, was tabled in the session of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
He pointed out that the state had 4,288 UCs amounting to Rs 6,365.17 crore pending in 2017-18 and 5,399 UCs amounting to Rs 8,685.15 crore in 2018-19, which now has aggregated to 6,644 UCs amounting to Rs 11,331:76 crore in 2019-20.Serto Kom also pointed out that from 2009 till date, Manipur has highest number of outstanding UCs in comparison to other NE states.
Number of UCs awaited for Mizoram is 151 amounting to Rs 172.17 crore, Sikkim 1,436 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 203.99 crore, Tripura 630 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 223.98 crore, Nagaland 251 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 609.07 crore, Arunachal Pradesh 259 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 913.62 crore and Meghalaya has 393 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 2981.21 crore.
Serto Kom continued that out of 35 departments, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj has highest number of outstanding UCs from 2009 to 2020 with 635 outstanding UCs amounting to Rs 4980.92 crore.
Other major departments with high number of outstanding UCs are Tribal Affairs & Hills Department at 2377 outstanding UCs (Rs 1,769.91 crore), Education (S) 1078 outstanding UCs (Rs 1,009.95 crore), Power 148 outstanding UCs (Rs 918.71 crore), Medical & Health Services 90 outstanding UCs (Rs 775.59 crore), MAHUD 273 outstanding UCs (Rs 485.70 crore), Planning 156 outstanding UCs (Rs 366.71 crore), Education (U) 335 outstanding UCs (Rs 359.14 crore), Horticulture & Soil Conservation 188 outstanding UCs amounting (Rs 206.63 crore), Forest 103 outstanding UCs (Rs 71.82 crore), etc.
High number of outstanding UCs underscores lack of transparency and accountability, and hence, the state government must scrutinise the issue, he emphasised.