Nitish slams Lalu for demanding CBI probe into CAG report on Bihar

Patna, Apr 9 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe over findings of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that claims that huge sums of money have been misused in the state.

"Go and ask Laloo Yadav about this. These days he has become a supporter of the Central Bureau of Investigation. He comes to Patna after long gaps so he has to say something to stay in the news. He has come here for some specific plan and wait and watch that he would go back very soon," he said.

Kumar said that his senior state minister have already clarified on the CAG report.

"The deputy chief minister and the state finance minister have already clarified on the CAG report. In every state, the CAG report is released and is widely discussed and debated. It is a constitutional process," said Kumar.

"When the report will come it will first go to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Whatever are the final points, which are put forward by the PAC will be accepted by the state government," he added.

The CAG report has indicted the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar for severe fiscal mismanagement. According to the report, detailed contingent (DC) bills of Rs.25, 575 crore had not been submitted till 2011.

The report has exposed 1,034 cases of defalcation, misappropriation, loss and theft involving Rs.409.15 crore till March 2011 in different departments of Bihar.

According to the CAG report, Rs.7, 015.37 crore was withdrawn for expenditure through 12,413 abstract contingency (AC) bills but only 109 DC bills amounting to a little over Rs 15 crore were submitted to the Accountant General of Bihar.

The CAG report reportedly highlights a declining trend of submission of DC bills over the years from 26.08 percent in 2002-03 to 0.23 percent in 2010-11.

Revealing lack of internal control of administrative departments in disbursal of fresh grants without submission of utilisation certificates by grantees, the CAG report said that of the 21,129 outstanding utilisation certificates of grants-in-aid, 20,190 outstanding certificates (95 per cent) were more than nine years old.

The report also revealed that Rs 14,474.03 crore of the budgetary provision of Rs.66, 292.08 crore in 2010-11 remained unutilised.

Meanwhile, Kumar also spoke the on the much-discussed power plant crisis in the state.

"From the last 15 years there has been no power plant in Bihar. Now there are plans to install one. In the 11th five-year plan we did not get the coal linkage, we are asking now for the 12th five-year plan. That is also not there. So if this is not injustice then I don't know what will be," said Kumar.

"So, an all-party delegation from the state went to the Prime Minister and requested him for at least one coal linkage, although we deserve much more," he added.

An all-party delegation from Bihar led by Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh last week seeking his immediate attention over shortage of coal linkage leading to power crisis in the region.

The delegation submitted two memorandums signed by the politicians before Dr. Singh, and briefed about the poor power supply in the state. (ANI)