TMCnet News

AG punches holes in state's IT department projects [Bhopal] [Times of India]
[October 15, 2014]

AG punches holes in state's IT department projects [Bhopal] [Times of India]


(Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BHOPAL: Accountant General of Madhya Pradesh detected financial irregularities in implementation of projects by state's information technology (IT) department, especially in construction of state data centre (SDC) at Arera Hills. An audit by AG found the department and Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) failed to construct cyber security centre, finishing schools, and incubation centre for IT companies as per original proposal. This resulted in the corporation losing opportunity of revenue generation, audit report said. Ministry of communication and IT, GoI had sanctioned statewide network area (SWAN) project for Madhya Pradesh and MPSEDC was appointed a nodal agency for execution of the project. SDC was to be setup for monitoring and controlling of the SWAN project. In 2007 proposal of constructing SDC on 1.25 acres of land at Arera Hills was passed. Auditors pointed out several other irregularities in the project. They slammed the corporation for blocking Rs 12 crore meant to provide internet connectivity to rural areas. Centre had in May 2006 launched the Common Service Centre (CSC) project across the country for providing sustainable digital access to rural community. MPSEDC was nodal agency for execution of the project acting as a facilitator, coordinator and monitoring agency. Company was to work with support of Centre's Department of Information Technology through BSNL which was to provide broadband connectivity to CSCs. Corporation had in November 2006 received Rs 18.30 crore as revenue and expenditure support for implementation of the project. Further, central government had in March 2009 released Rs 12.20 crore to MP for providing BSNL connectivity to all CSCs before March 2010. Funds given to the Madhya Pradesh government was to be further released to MPSEDC without any delay failing which the amount would be recovered from it with interest, the audit report said. "However, the state government released the amount to the company (MPSEDC) only in December 2009 and the company in turn released the amount to the BSNL in February 2010," it said. As on December 2012, 9,299 CSCs were commissioned, out of which 8,578 were connected through Internet and the remaining 721 were not provided connectivity even after 21 months of extended time limit of March 2011, it said. Out of 8,578 CSCs connected through Internet, only 2,201 CSCs were connected through BSNL broadband, though 46 months have passed from the date of release of grant of Rs 12.20 crore to BSNL, the audit said. "This defeated the very purpose of the scheme for which funds were sanctioned. Further, the company has not taken any action for recovery or adjustment of Rs 12.30 crore from BSNL even after (its) failure to provide connectivity to remaining CSCs," said the audit report for 2012-13, details of which were collected under RTI by activist Ajay Dubey. Audit also reported delay in completion of Software Technology Park at Gwalior which resulted in revenue loss worth several crores to the corporation.



(c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]