Shillong, Jan 6: Alleged delay of up to 200 days in depositing ₹32.94 lakh of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) revenue into the treasury has led to a temporary misappropriation of funds.
Stating this in its report, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said the amount was collected during 2018-19 was deposited in the Council’s treasury after a delay ranging from two to 198 days.
When asked by CAG, the KHADC refused to share details of officers responsible for the delay.
“The delay in deposit of the Council’s revenue was not only in contravention of the Fund Rules but retention of the Council’s money also led to temporary misappropriation of the Council’s revenue,” it said.
“Details of officials responsible for delay in remittance of revenue collected, though called for, were not made available to Audit. The Council may take appropriate action to fix responsibility for the delay in depositing ₹32.94 lakh of the Council’s revenue into the treasury,” the report added.
While accepting the audit observation, the secretary to the Executive Committee, KHADC stated (August 2022) that with effect from April 2022 monthly collections are being credited into the savings bank accounts of the Council within the last working day of the same month in which it occurs.
Meanwhile, the CAG has recommended that the Council may put in place systems to ensure timely remittance of receipts to the treasury to prevent risk of temporary misappropriation of Council funds due to delayed remittance/non deposit of the collected revenue.
