The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in a report has rapped the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for not exercising control over units under its administrative jurisdiction. The report, which appraises the performance of nine scientific and environmental ministries or departments, was presented to Parliament on Friday.
MoEF and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have also been assessed in the report. CAG has pointed out that CPCB created and upgraded posts in violation of the orders of Union Ministry of Finance (MoF) (see table). To illustrate, between December 1994 and January 2009, 62 posts were created without finance ministry’s approval.
MoEF informed that in 1988 MoF lifted the ban on scientific posts in MoEF but CAG has not accepted this argument since all of the 62 posts were non-scientific. Similarly, CPCB created 55 posts between September 1994 and June 2003 without MoF approval. MoEF clarified there was a view that CPCB is competent to create all these posts under Rule 8 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975. CAG has not accepted this clarification either.
| Posts created and upgraded | |||
| Violation | Period during which posts were created | Number of posts | Annual financial implication (in Rs lakh) |
|
Posts created without MoF approval |
December 1994-January 2009 |
62 | 146.66 |
|
September 1994-June 2003 |
55 | 83.92 | |
|
Temporary posts created but not abolished |
March 1996 |
10 | 91.36 |
|
Irregular upgradation of posts |
July 1996- |
47 | |
|
Irregular continuance of ad-hoc appointments and promotions without approval |
March 1996-January 2009 |
35 | |