By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has discovered holes in Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) and flaws in implementation of its elements resulting in wastage of funds price crores of rupees in Odisha.
The CAG lined actions of State Coastal Zone Management Authorities of 9 States together with Odisha from 2015 to 2020. It additionally reviewed the implementation of ICZM tasks within the State in its report on ‘Conservation of Coastal Eco-systems.’
It revealed {that a} analysis laboratory was established at Dangmal in November 2016 beneath ICZMP at a value of Rs 32.78 lakh to facilitate rescue and therapy of injured wild animals, evaluation of viscera of useless wild animals and pathological/microscopic research in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the laboratory remained defunct since starting.
To promote livelihood by eco-tourism in Chilika and Bhitarkanika, seven transit boats, 4 luxurious boats and three catamaran boats have been bought between in 2014 by Wildlife Division of Chilika, Forest Division of Rajnagar and Forest Division of Berhampur at a value of Rs 7.95 crore.
The audit discovered that the seven transit boats bought by Chilika Wildlife division have been operated for under 11 months, whereas the three catamaran bought by Berhampur division have been transferred to Rajanagar Forest Division in February 2016 after mendacity idle for nearly two years. The boats, nevertheless, have been operated solely until September 2017.
The CAG mentioned the ICZM plan was to be ready for chosen coastal stretches of Odisha inside two years. However, it was ready solely in 2018. Besides, the ICZM plan of the State is but to be accorded the formal approval by the MoEF&CC, it acknowledged.
To tackle downside of invasive weed in Chilika eco-system, a multipurpose Amphibian Weed Harvester (AWH) was procured in December 2018 beneath ICZMP at a value of Rs 2.14 crore.The machine was handed over to CDA at Ansupa lake as a substitute of the analysis centre at Chilika Lake. Deployment of the machine at Ansupa Lake was greater than at Chilika the place the weed infestation was main.
Similarly, 10 Water Quality Monitoring Buoy System (WQMBS) and 12 multi-parameter Water Quality Monitoring System with sensors and one Control Centre Data reception have been bought at a value of Rs 2.69 crore and put in at 10 totally different areas in Chilika in 2012. On scrutiny, it was discovered that inside one and half years, six out of 10 WQMBS have been stolen and 4 remained in operation as of June 2018.
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board established a Centre for Management of Coastal Ecosystems in 2010 to analyse the sources, ranges and pathways of varied pollution within the Paradip-Dhamra coastal stretch. A complete 19 laboratory gear have been procured for this goal at Rs 2.76 crore between 2013 and 2015.
However, the centre which was supposed to gather water and soil samples and assess the coastal water high quality parameters failed in finishing up these exercise successfully between 2015-20 defeating its goal of addressing coastal air pollution within the area.
Funds gone waste
Research lab at Dangmal arrange at a value of Rs 32.78L defunct
11 boats, 3 catamarans at Rs 7.95 cr idle for two years
Amphibian Weed Harvester of Rs 2.14 cr not in Chilika
10 Water Quality Monitoring Buoy System stolen
BHUBANESWAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has discovered holes in Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) and flaws in implementation of its elements resulting in wastage of funds price crores of rupees in Odisha.
The CAG lined actions of State Coastal Zone Management Authorities of 9 States together with Odisha from 2015 to 2020. It additionally reviewed the implementation of ICZM tasks within the State in its report on ‘Conservation of Coastal Eco-systems.’
It revealed {that a} analysis laboratory was established at Dangmal in November 2016 beneath ICZMP at a value of Rs 32.78 lakh to facilitate rescue and therapy of injured wild animals, evaluation of viscera of useless wild animals and pathological/microscopic research in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the laboratory remained defunct since starting.
To promote livelihood by eco-tourism in Chilika and Bhitarkanika, seven transit boats, 4 luxurious boats and three catamaran boats have been bought between in 2014 by Wildlife Division of Chilika, Forest Division of Rajnagar and Forest Division of Berhampur at a value of Rs 7.95 crore.
The audit discovered that the seven transit boats bought by Chilika Wildlife division have been operated for under 11 months, whereas the three catamaran bought by Berhampur division have been transferred to Rajanagar Forest Division in February 2016 after mendacity idle for nearly two years. The boats, nevertheless, have been operated solely until September 2017.
The CAG mentioned the ICZM plan was to be ready for chosen coastal stretches of Odisha inside two years. However, it was ready solely in 2018. Besides, the ICZM plan of the State is but to be accorded the formal approval by the MoEF&CC, it acknowledged.
To tackle downside of invasive weed in Chilika eco-system, a multipurpose Amphibian Weed Harvester (AWH) was procured in December 2018 beneath ICZMP at a value of Rs 2.14 crore.The machine was handed over to CDA at Ansupa lake as a substitute of the analysis centre at Chilika Lake. Deployment of the machine at Ansupa Lake was greater than at Chilika the place the weed infestation was main.
Similarly, 10 Water Quality Monitoring Buoy System (WQMBS) and 12 multi-parameter Water Quality Monitoring System with sensors and one Control Centre Data reception have been bought at a value of Rs 2.69 crore and put in at 10 totally different areas in Chilika in 2012. On scrutiny, it was discovered that inside one and half years, six out of 10 WQMBS have been stolen and 4 remained in operation as of June 2018.
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board established a Centre for Management of Coastal Ecosystems in 2010 to analyse the sources, ranges and pathways of varied pollution within the Paradip-Dhamra coastal stretch. A complete 19 laboratory gear have been procured for this goal at Rs 2.76 crore between 2013 and 2015.
However, the centre which was supposed to gather water and soil samples and assess the coastal water high quality parameters failed in finishing up these exercise successfully between 2015-20 defeating its goal of addressing coastal air pollution within the area.
Funds gone waste
Research lab at Dangmal arrange at a value of Rs 32.78L defunct
11 boats, 3 catamarans at Rs 7.95 cr idle for two years
Amphibian Weed Harvester of Rs 2.14 cr not in Chilika
10 Water Quality Monitoring Buoy System stolen
