CAG raps Power Department for under performance
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 11 2013:
The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has rapped the State Electricity Department, which is incidentally under the charge of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, for its underperformance.
In its report for the year ended March 31, 2012, CAG said that a performance audit on power transmission activities of Electricity Department, Government of Manipur for the period 2007-12 has revealed underperformance with regard to planning and development, project management of transmission system, etc.
The Department had completed construction of only two sub-stations against the plan for construction of five new/augmentation of existing 132/33 KV substations and five transmission lines during 2007-12, the report pointed out.
The works of construction/augmentation of 132 KV and 33/11 KV substations and transmission lines were delayed by 5 to 19 months due to delay in tendering activities, statutory clearances, frequent revisions of scope, etc.
Moreover, the Department procured tower materials which did not confirm to the standard norms, the report added.
With regard to performance of transmission system, the CAG report noted that the Department was able to meet only 62.96 percent of the system peak load during 2007-12 due to non-completion of 132 KV Jiribam-Leimatak line, which was not restored even after 10 years of its breakdown.
None of the substations had Remote Terminal Units/Substation Management Systems for monitoring and recording real time data for efficient Energy Measurement System.
Moreover, the Department did not have any Material Management Policy.
It had not fixed any standard minimum level or re-order level of material, the report said.
The CAG report has also taken serious note over the fact that internal control mechanism of the Department was weak as instances of preparation of bills and drawing cheques in anticipation of delivery of equipment, passing of bills based on printed invoice of another project, in admissible payments, etc, were noticed in the audit.
The facilities for Disaster Management in the Department were also no inadequate that there is not even facility for black-start operations, the report added.