the goan I network
PANAJI
The River Navigation Department (RND) has come in for harsh criticism over poor financial performance and various irregularities in the department since the last five years.
An inspection report on the compliance audit of accounts of the RND for 2014-19 prepared by the Office of the Principal Accountant General at Porvorim has revealed that the RND had generated a paltry Rs 9.94 crore from April, 1 2014 to March, 31 2019, but had incurred huge expenses of Rs 192.02 crore during the same period.
The audit report has also pointed out serious irregularities in the day-to-day operations of the RND.
The RND has a present staff strength of 533, with many of them deployed on 35 ferryboats along 18 regular ferry routes in the State. The government has exempted passengers and two wheelers from ferry toll fees since April 2000, while tickets are issued to four-wheelers and other commercial vehicles.
Pointing out to a loss of revenue of about Rs 1.25 crore from ticket sales on various ferry routes, the audit report observed: “In view of lack (of) proper internal control, absence of reconciliation of tickets, non-furnishing of receipts of ticket money, details of ferry-wise tickets issued and amount received from ferry routes to audit, audit estimates loss of revenue of Rs 125.86 lakh on account of toll fee collection from 2015-16 to 2017-18.”
“Information pertaining to tickets on hand as on 2015-19 was not available with the RND...this was evidence of very weak internal controls in RND,” stated the audit report.
According to the audit report, “a test check of the cash collection statement of April 2018 pertaining to Keri-Tiracol route revealed that cash collection from May 2017 to September 2017 was deposited with the cashier in April 2018, a delay ranging from 6-11 months.”
In addition, the audit report noted that “the cash book of March 2018 was incomplete and figure of receipts side and payments side had not be reconciled…The facts are indicative of systemic failure and lack of financial accountability in the department collecting
revenue for the government.”
The audit report was also scathing in its criticism of the “wasteful expenditure of Rs 30.45 lakh on the conversion of the ferryboat “Miramar” to a pleasure craft.
It noted that the RND had decided to convert “Miramar” ferryboat into a pleasure craft by declaring it as surplus as the government decided to close three ferry
routes.
“The expenditure totalling Rs 30.45 lakh incurred on the ferryboat “Miramar” was wasteful as the proposal to convert the surplus ferry boat “Miramar” into a pleasure craft was taken hastily without feasibility study of the proposal and preparation of estimates for technical sanction.”
“Even though there was a surplus ferryboat “Miramar” which could be repaired and deployed, the RND issued a work order to construct three new ferry boats in January 2018 at the rate of Rs 63.68 lakh.”
The audit report also observed “irregular expenditure incurred on purchase of engines and diversion of funds without approval from Government.”
Despite efforts, Captain of Ports James Braganza could not be contacted for comments on the audit report.
