Shillong, Sep 16: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed a significant backlog in the submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) by the MDA-II government.
As of March 31, 2024, 733 UCs worth ₹4,835.93 crore remain outstanding, representing a 61.45% increase in the number of outstanding UCs and a 40.74% increase in the amount outstanding compared to the previous year.
Total of 1,309 UCs amounting to 9,157.80 crore (Overdue51 733 UCs amounting to ₹4,835.93 crore due during 2023-24 and 52576 UCs amounting to ₹4,321.87 crore to be due during the year 2024-25) are yet to be submitted as on 31 March 2024.
Major defaulting departments which have not submitted UCs and their percentage out of total outstanding amount under Grants-in-Aid are Community and Rural Development Department (1,471.97 crore, 30.44 per cent), Health and Family Welfare Department (1,417.27 crore, 29.31 per cent), Education Department (1,245.14 crore, 25.75 per cent), Planning Development (284.40 crore, 5.88 per cent) and Sport and Youth affairs (175.08 crore 3.62 per cent).
During the Exit Conference (March 2025), the State Government stated that the matter will be taken up with the departments concerned.
According to the report, the substantial backlog in the submission of UCs poses a significant risk of potential fraud and misappropriation of funds.
“The State Government needs to monitor this aspect closely and may review disbursement of further Grants to the Grantees that are not in compliance to prescribed conditions and timelines with respect to furnishing of UCs to the Finance Department as well as Principal Accountant General (A&E), Meghalaya,” the CAG has recommended.
