Red in the ledger? Margao council’s account books under scrutiny

MARGAOrCome Wednesday, the state audit team will descend at the Margao Municipal Council as usual to conduct the annual ritual of auditing the accounts of the civic body for the financial year 2016-17. rBut, will the visit help unravel the council’s exact financial position, with the audit team last year pulling up the municipal babus for their non-cooperative attitude and for blocking information which otherwise could have helped dig out skeletons, if any, in the municipal cupboard? rIt’s a couple of months now since the state audit team had submitted the audit report for the financial year 2015-16 to the civic body. Sadly, nothing has been heard in the corridors of the municipal body over the state audit team’s report, recommending a ‘Special Audit’ of the council to overcome the situation, with the report categorically staying that the council’s financial position is not healthy. rThe need for a special audit was stressed by the state audit after the team virtually pulled up the municipal babus for not providing relevant information and documents to the team to scan the municipal accounts. In fact, the audit report had categorically mentioned that in the circumstances of non-production of required documents to the audit, the financial position of the council could not be ascertained. rA glance at the concluding para of the audit report sums up the concern expressed by the audit team headed by Dy Director Madhukar Kuncolienkar. It states “in the last two audit reports, it was requested to issue necessary instructions to the municipal council from higher authorities as required information was not provided to the audit party by the officials concerned related to audit”. rThat neither the council nor the municipal authorities have taken cognizance of the situation became evident when the audit party made it abundantly clear that higher authorities have neither taken the matter seriously nor has taken cognizance of the requirements of audit. r“This year also the audit party could not carry out the audit in fair and transparent manner as required information has not been provided to audit in spite of half margin memos and several verbal reminders,” the report stated. rWhile stressing on the need to carry out a special audit of the council to overcome the situation, the audit team further requested the Director of Municipal Administration to take necessary action in the matter by issuing strict instructions to the municipal authorities to provide required information and cooperation to the audit. rA glance at Para 16 of the audit report throws light on the indifference of the municipal babus to the audit. It states, “During the audit for the year 2015-16, most of the documents like vouchers, bank reconcillation statements, fixed deposit register, grants register were not produce for the audit and hence the audit party could not verify all the records. This is a serious issue in dealing with public money,” adding “the council may take appropriate action in this matter in order to safeguard the interest of the council and avoid the mismanagement of public funds”. rWhen The Goan called up Margao Municipal Council chairperson, Babita Angle Prabhudesai to shed light on the fate of the audit team’s recommendation to carry out a special audit, she feigned total ignorance on the matter. r“None of the municipal officials have brought to my notice the audit report recommending special audit. I will immediately find out from the taxation section the audit report and the need for a special audit,” Babita said, adding that the council will take appropriate action after due deliberations.