CAG blames the Ministry of External Affairs
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India have rapped the Ministry of External Affairs for inefficient management of its properties across the world that has cost the exchequer several crores.
Criticising the ‘Global Estate Management’ by the MEA, the CAG, in its latest report, the Auditor general said, that the properties that were purchased or developed without assessing the basic requirement and purpose of their acquisition.
This, the auditor said, led to blocking of funds with consequential avoidable expenditure. The financial implication on this account amounted to Rs 41.47 crore on rents during one year only i.e. 2011-12 besides other incidental expenses of Rs 54.20 crore, he said.
In order to be more careful so that they do not garner such huge loses the Ministry of External Affairs should be more careful while making investments, ones which could profit them and the others which might cost them. The Controller and Auditor general had criticised them while stating about the loss which has been up to Rs 54.20 crore. Probably the ministry will be learning from this mistake and be more accountable in future about its needs and others and then make necessary investments.
Source: The Economic Times
CAG, CAG Report, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Global Estate Management, Ministry of External Affairs
