Here are the details of the irregularities in the finance division of the NHA
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged several irregularities in the finance division of the NHAI, including:
Unauthorised expenditure of crores of rupees
Non-utilisation of funds
Misappropriation of funds
Tendering irregularities
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) has also raised concerns about the irregularities in the finance division of the NHAI, and has called for a thorough investigation.
The three officials who have been suspended are:
The Director of Finance
The Deputy Director of Finance
The Assistant Director of Finance
The official who has been dismissed from service is:
The Chief Accountant
The irregularities in the finance division of the NHAI have been going on for several years, and have resulted in a loss of crores of rupees to the exchequer. The suspension and dismissal of the officials is a welcome step, but it is important to ensure that the investigation is thorough and that the guilty are brought to book.
In addition to the irregularities mentioned above, there have also been allegations of nepotism and favouritism in the finance division of the NHAI. There have been cases of unqualified people being appointed to high-paying positions, and of contracts being awarded to companies with close ties to NHAI officials.
The irregularities in the finance division of the NHAI are a serious matter, and they need to be addressed urgently. The government needs to take steps to ensure that the NHAI is run in a transparent and accountable manner, and that the public money is not being misused.
Here are some of the steps that the government can take to address the irregularities in the finance division of the NHAI:
Conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of irregularities.
Take disciplinary action against the officials who are found to be guilty.
Implement measures to prevent future irregularities, such as strengthening internal controls and introducing a whistleblowing mechanism.
Make the financial transactions of the NHAI more transparent.
Ensure that the contracts for road construction and maintenance are awarded fairly and on merit.
The government needs to take these steps to restore public trust in the NHAI and to ensure that the public money is being used for its intended purpose.