GUWAHATI: The Assam government failed to effectively utilize funds allocated for solid waste management (SWM) under the 15th Finance Commission (FC) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), according to a recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Between 2018 and 2022, ₹350.76 crore was allocated for SWM activities in the state’s urban local bodies (ULBs), but only ₹241.18 crore was released, while ₹62.46 crore was used at the directorate level. As of March 31, 2022, ₹47.12 crore remained unutilized, highlighting inefficiencies in fund management.
The audit further pointed out that under the Fifth and Sixth Assam State Finance Commission (ASFC), ₹217.76 crore was recommended for SWM, yet only ₹59.60 crore was allocated in the state budget. Despite this, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) did not release any funds to the ULBs during the audit period.
This financial shortfall and lack of fund disbursement significantly hindered the state’s waste management initiatives, leading to delays in critical infrastructure development.
Out of the unutilized ₹47.12 crore, ₹40 crore was allocated for purchasing vehicles, equipment, and machinery required for solid waste management (SWM). Although approval for procurement was granted in July 2020, the process was not completed until August 2022, causing further delays in waste management operations.
In October 2023, the Assam government acknowledged that delays in the tendering process had hindered the timely use of the sanctioned funds.
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