Himachal colleges told to submit status report of construction works

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 25

Taking serious note of audit objections raised by the Accountant General (Audit) for non-submission of utilisation certificate/completion report in respect of funds provided for developmental works, Amarjeet Sharma, Director, Higher Education, today directed principals of colleges to furnish details of physical and financial status of construction works undertaken.

The Education Department is providing funds to colleges for various works, including construction of buildings, additional accommodation, play grounds, science blocks, retaining walls and boundary walls, and it is mandatory for colleges to submit the utilisation/ completion report after the funds are spent.

However, most of the colleges either did not submit the report or works were not completed within the stipulated time, inviting the wrath of the AG.

The principals have now been asked to personally get the reports for each work from executing agencies, such as the executive engineers, SDOs, HIMUDA and BDO, and send the complete details in a prescribed pattern on a separate sheet.

“Not only the Audit Department but also the state Planning and Finance Departments have repeatedly asked for utilisation certificates/ completion reports in respect of grants sanctioned to colleges, which is not being provided,” the letter stated, adding that the utilisation certificate was also required for the budget plan for 2022-23.

Funds were released to colleges under RUSA and budgetary allocations were also being made every year. In many cases, additional funds were released without asking for the utilisation certificate or completion report.