J&K failed to submit 2205 UCs of worth Rs.10,000 crores: CAG

In a serious dent to transparency, the key departments in Jammu and Kashmir have failed to submit the Utilization Certificates (UCs) for various grants paid by the GoI clearly suggesting that the concerned authorities have not explained as to how funds were spent over the years and no assurance that whether the intended objectives of providing these funds had been achieved.

As per CAG report, a whopping 2,205 number of Utilization Certificates(UCs) for grants paid up to 30 September 2019 amounting to Rs.10,441.58 crore were outstanding up to 31 March 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir. Department wise breakup of outstanding UCs shows that 86.53 per cent of total amount of outstanding UCs pertained to five departments and 55.53 per cent of outstanding UCs pertained to Education Department only.

For speedy and effective implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes (CSSs), the government has been directing the concerned officers to submit the project-wise UCs in time from time to time.

Out of total UC worth 10,441.58 crore outstanding, the education department with 55.53 per cent had Rs.5,798.91 Crore outstanding UCs, followed by housing and urban development of Rs.1425.69 crore, agriculture of Rs.796.29 crore, health and family welfare department Rs.742.43 crore and tourism had Rs.272.74 Crore worth UCs outstanding upto 2018-19.

The position of outstanding Utilization Certificates (UCs) as on 31 March 2020 for the grants released by the government of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir up to 30 September 2018, which is yet to be apportioned included- upto 2017-18, 1370 UCs of Rs.5,972.99 crore were pending, in 2018-19, 403 UCs worth 2218.09 crore , in 2019-20 (up to 30/04/2018), 256 UCs worth Rs.1,163.41 crore and in 2019-20 (up to 30/09/2018) 176 UC worth Rs.1,087.09 were pending.

As per CAG-non submission of the UCs meant that the authorities had not explained as to how funds were spent over the years. There was also no assurance that the intended objectives of providing these funds had been achieved. This assumes greater importance if such UCs are pending against Grants-in-Aid meant for capital expenditure. Since non-submission of UCs is fraught with the risk of misappropriation, it is imperative that this aspect is monitored closely and concerned persons are held accountable for submission of UCs in a timely manner.