PANAJI
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has warned Goa that funds for development of State roads under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) may not be released if it fails to furnish work completion reports, audit certificates and other records required under the CRIF framework.
In a communication dated August 19, the Ministry flagged lapses by several States and Union Territories including Goa in submitting mandatory documentation. It directed the State government to ensure strict compliance with the existing criteria, failing which release of funds could be withheld.
The Ministry noted that under the CRIF criteria, States and UTs are required to furnish completion reports or certificates, duly verified by audit, within three months of completion of works. However, it said such records were not being submitted to the Ministry, resulting in inadequate enforcement of statutory audit provisions. MoRTH has now stipulated that while submitting the first Utilisation Certificate (UC) in a financial year, State must append a detailed list of completed works, details of the Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) survey report on the completed works and the audit report of sanctioned works under CRIF.
The Ministry has also pointed out deficiencies in proposals submitted for approval of new State road projects. Such proposals, it said, often did not include a certificate confirming availability of the entire unencumbered land required for the project. State is also required to furnish a certificate that the government will ensure proper Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of project roads after their development under the scheme.
Another concern flagged by MoRTH is the non-compliance with the mandatory use of NSVs to record road inventory and road conditions.
“In view of above and based on Audit observations,” the Ministry has requested the State to ensure strict compliance with the extant CRIF criteria and guidelines, explicitly warning that “failing which funds may not be released.”
