ITANAGAR, Feb 21: The comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) has criticized the Arunachal Pradesh government for anomalies in the implementation of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) in the state.
The BADP was started in the country during the 7th Plan period (1985-1990) for two reasons – balanced development of sensitive border areas through adequate provision of infrastructure facilities, and promoting a sense of security among the local population residing in border areas.
During the 9th Plan (1997-2002), the programme was extended to several other states of the country, including Arunachal Pradesh, which shares 5,830 kilometres long border with three countries – Myanmar, China and Bhutan.
The CAG report said priority was not given to villages situated within 0-10 kilometres from the international borders as per the guideline.
It said 340 schemes – 186 in Tawang district and 154 in Upper Subansiri – were taken up in villages situated between 10 to 23.75 kilometres from the international borders.
“In West Siang district, 114 schemes were implemented in 31 villages located beyond 50 kilometres of the border,” the report said.
During 2012-17, there was shortfall in release of central share to the extent of Rs 34.40 crore and state share of Rs 11.43 crore.
The report said Rs 355.35 crore received from the Centre for the scheme was parked by the state government for a period of one to 23 months.
“Monitoring mechanism was inadequate and no high ranking state nodal officers were appointed during the five-year period and no national quality monitors from the Centre had inspected any BADP schemes during the audit period,” the report pointed out.
The report criticized the government for wasteful and doubtful expenditures, and creating idle assets under the BADP. (PTI)
GoAP signs MoU on BADP
The state government on Friday signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) and the WAPCOS Ltd for monitoring implementation of projects under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) for 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The MoU with the NEDFi has been signed for 467 projects, amounting to Rs 10,580.52 lakhs, and with the WAPCOS for 399 projects, amounting to Rs 10, 580.52 lakhs, according to an official release.
Planning & Investment Secretary Himanshu Gupta signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, while Guwahati NEDFi Deputy General Manager Manoj Kr Das and WAPCOS Regional Manager (NE) Debajit Das signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
The BADP projects implemented along the India-China, India-Bhutan and India-Myanmar borders would be monitored by the NEDFi and the WAPCOS through field visits. They will submit reports to the finance, planning & investment department’s monitoring and evaluation division for corrective actions, the release said.
