BHUBANESWAR: The CAG has pulled up district social welfare officer (DSWO), Nuapada, for showing undue favour to a junior engineer (JE).The State Government sanctioned ` 92.15 lakh during 2006-09 to the DSWO for construction, repair and maintenance of anganwadi centre buildings.As per the instruction of the Finance Department, the construction and repair works were to be done through panchayat samitis.Verification of records revealed that the Nuapada DSWO gave ` 50.57 lakh advance on 11 occasions to the JE of the NAC, Khariar, from September 2007 to August 2008 for construction of nine offices and residential buildings, renovation of 94 anganwadi centres at different places of the district despite the latter’s jurisdiction limited to the NAC.The advances were paid to the JE, which is mentioned on the records of the district collector, citing reasons that he completed a work in time.The JE was asked to complete the works within three months of the receipt of advances and submit utilisation certificates, measurement books and vouchers in time.However, the JE did not submit any voucher and documents supporting execution of works even after two years from the date of receipt of the last advance despite repeated reminders from the collectorate.The audit further detected that funds were advanced for construction of anganwadi centre buildings even before the technical and administrative approval was sanctioned.The DSWO did not follow the prescribed procedure while sanctioning advances, the audit report said.As per the Treasury Code and the general financial rules of the State, advances are granted under special circumstances subject to adjustment of the same by submission of detailed account.If adjustment bill is not submitted in time, funds given in advance should be recovered from the officer concerned.The DSWO clarified that the district collector decided to entrust the works to the JE as panchayat samitis made no progress for the works entrusted to them with an advance of ` 1.45 crore given during 2006-08.Further enquiries revealed that the JE had completed only three works worth ` 9.22 lakh.What is more galling is that the executive officer of the NAC, under whom the JE worked, was not informed about the funds advanced
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