CAG report reveals Rs 2,031 Cr unspent in Tripura's Central Scheme funds, found discrepancy

Agartala: As on 31 March 2023, there was an unspent amount of Central Scheme funds of Rs 2,031.24 crore parked in the Bank Account of Single Nodal Agencies (SNAs) Tripura, said a report of State Finance Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The report also pointed out that there was discrepancy between the figures furnished by the State Government (Rs 1,812.84 crore) and that of the Public Financial Management System (PFMS Report (2,031.24 crore) for the period. 
“Moreover, as per information received from the State Government, there was an unspent funds of Rs 499.53 crore in 575 DDOs Bank Accounts as on 31 March 2023”, the report said.

It said that during 2022-23, the Tripura Government received Rs 3,475.40 crore for implementation of various Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the State and monitoring of utilisation of the funds released through SNAs.

“As per the procedure, the State Government is to transfer the Central share received to the concerned SNAs Bank Account along with the corresponding States share within 21 days from the date of the fund received. As per information furnished by the State Government (September 2023), it was seen that the State had transferred Rs 4,785.21 crore along with its corresponding share of Rs 895.45 crore to the SNAs Account through GIA bills as on 31 March 2023. There was an unspent balance of Rs 1,812.84 crore in the Bank Accounts of the SNAs as on 31 March 2023, as informed by the State Government (September 2023). As per the PFMS report, there was an unspent amount of Rs 2,031.24 crore in the SNAs account as on 31 March 2023. The difference of unspent balances needs to be reconciled by the State Government”, the reports reads.

It said that the scrutiny of the PFMS Report revealed that out of the unspent amount of Rs 2,031.24 crore, more than Rs 10 crore in each were lying in the Bank Account of the following SNAs under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes as on 31 March 2023 as detailed.

“The fiscal position of the State is viewed in terms of three key fiscal parameters Revenue Deficit/ Surplus, Fiscal Deficit/ Surplus and the ratio of Outstanding Debt to GSDP. The GSDP of Tripura grew by 16.12 per cent from 62,550.44 crore in 2021-22 to 72,635.62 (Advance) in 2022-23. The State had achieved the Revenue Surplus during2022-23 which was 0.78 per cent of GSDP. The State was successful in containing the Fiscal Deficit below the target as per Tripura State Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2005 of GSDP in four out of last five years. During the current year i.e., 2022-23, the State had Fiscal deficit of Rs 1,512.73 crore which was 2.08 per cent of GSDP during the year”, it said.

The report pointed out that during the five-year period 2018-23, outstanding debt of the State remained within the norms prescribed in the State FRBM Act. During 2022-23, the outstanding liabilities decreased by 45.26 crore (0.21 per cent) from Rs21,732.32 crore in 2021-22 to 21.687.06 crore in 2022-23 including Back to Back loan of Rs 627.37 crore given by the Gol in lieu of GST compensation up to 2021-22.

“As on 31 March 2023, there was an unspent amount of Central Scheme funds of 2,031.24 crore parked in the Bank Account of Single Nodal Agencies (SNAs). But, there was discrepancy between the figures furnished by the State Government (Rs1,812.84 crore) and that of the PFMS Report (2,031.24 crore) for the period. Moreover, as per information received from the State Government, there was an unspent funds of Rs499.53 crore in 575 DDOs Bank Accounts as on 31 March 2023”, it added.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India also recommended that the Tripura Government may book grants in aid as revenue expenditure to present correct financial position of the State.

“The Government should discharge the interest liabilities in time. There is a need to reconcile the difference between the unspent amount of Central Scheme funds between the figures furnished by the State Government and that of the PFMS Report and The State Government should monitor the utilisation of the funds lying in the DDOs Accounts and instruct to remit the unspent amount to the Government Account except scheme funds”, it added.