Maharashtra departments default on utilisation certificates, rushed spending in March: CAG

Several departments of the Maharashtra government have failed to submit utilisation certificates UCs for grantsinaid of thousands of crores even as they rushed to incur a bulk of their expenditure in the closing month of 202425 says CAG reported news agency PTIThe Housing Department figured prominently on both countsThe Comptroller and Auditor General CAG report tabled on the last day of the state legislatures winter session on Sunday stated that nonsubmission of UCs under the Bombay Financial Rules 1959 carries the risk that amounts reflected in the Finance Accounts may not have reached the intended beneficiaries reported PTIAs on March 31 2025 UCs of Rs 17731984 crore related to 52876 cases were outstanding During 202425 the government cleared UCs amounting to Rs 13722225 crore in about 40047 cases the report saidAmong the major defaulters the Urban Development Department led with pending UCs of Rs 11040 crore followed by the Planning Department Rs 5805 crore Water Resources Department Rs 3602 crore Housing Development Department Rs 2839 crore and Social Justice and Special Assistance Department Rs 2640 crore reported PTIThe audit also flagged a rush of expenditure in March 2025 in contravention of the Bombay Financial Rules which advise against bunching of spending at the end of the financial year It said 18 departments incurred expenditure exceeding Rs 100 crore in March alone accounting for more than 25 per cent of their total annual spendingThe Housing Department recorded the sharpest yearend surge with 90 per cent of its total expenditure incurred in March followed by the Environment and Climate Change Department 77 per cent Planning Department 65 per cent Minorities Development Department 53 per cent and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department 50 per cent the CAG said reported PTIHaffkine procurements leave Rs 2226 crore Advance Contingent bills unadjusted CAGMeanwhile the Maharashtra government routed routine procurement of medicines and medical equipment through the staterun Haffkine institute using Advance Contingent bills leaving 559 bills worth Rs 222632 crore pending for adjustment at the end of 202425 CAG has said reported PTIAdvance Contingent AC bills are a type of government bill used to draw money in advance for urgent or unforeseen expenses when it is not practical to wait for detailed bills or vouchersAccording to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG tabled on the last day of the winter session of the state legislature on Sunday pending AC bills accounted for 6303 per cent of the total AC bills in violation of Rule 2822 of the Maharashtra Treasury Rules which bars withdrawal of funds unless required for immediate disbursement reported PTIThe report identified the Medical Education and Drugs Department as the biggest defaulter with Rs 2212 crore of Detailed Contingent DC bills pending followed by the Public Health Department Rs 770 crore Home Department Rs 266 crore and Planning Department Rs 120 croreA Detailed Contingent DC bill is a government bill submitted after spending money drawn through an AC bill to account for and regularise that expenditureThe CAG said that the government routed routine procurement of medicines and medical equipment through Mumbaibased Haffkine BioPharmaceuticals Corporation Limited using AC bills leaving 559 bills worth Rs 222632 crore pending for adjustment at the end of 202425 reported PTIWith inputs from PTI