(a) whether numerous audit observations raised by Comptroller and Auditor General of India involving hundreds of crores of rupees are pending for settlement/reply with railway board for number of years;
(b) if so, the number of audit observations/reply pending as on date and the amount is involved therein;
(c) the reasons for not settling those observations and non-reply of observations of C&AG; and
(d) the measures taken to tone up the working of the railways?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS(SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)
(a) to A statement is attached.
(d)
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133 BY SHRIMATI RENU KUMARI TO BE
ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.03.2002 REGARDING OBSERVATIONS
OF C&AG
(a) & (b): The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in his
annual reports pertaining to the Ministry of Railways brings
out his observations on the deficiencies in the various
areas of railway working and the losses as observed /
assessed by the Audit. These observations are examined in
detail, as per laid down procedure, and Action Taken Notes
on these paras are submitted to the Public Accounts
Committee duly vetted by the Audit. CAG reports for the
period from 1993-94 to 1999-2000 included a total of 674
audit paras and out of these, Action Taken Notes have
already been submitted to the Public Accounts Committee on
as many as 458 paras. As on 01.3.2002, there are 97 audit
paras on which replies are yet to be furnished by Ministry
of Railways. 119 paras are awaiting Audit vetting.
(c) & (d): Delays occur in furnishing of the replies due to the
fact that for preparing the Action Taken Notes, information
is required to be collected from the field units and
thereafter, the Audit also requires time to vet the Draft
Action Taken Notes. After the Action Taken Notes are
submitted to the PAC, necessary corrective measures are
taken, wherever called for.