Government may table 16 CAG reports next week; all eyes on audit report of 4G spectrum auction

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Mostly likely, the central government will put forward 16 audit reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) next week. However, all the eyes will be on the audit report on the 4G spectrum auction in the communications and IT sector.

The allocation of airwaves in an unclear manner was questioned by the official auditor of India. During the audit, CAG put a question mark on the way pan India 4G broadband licences were given to Relaince Jio Infocomm. It was asserted by the auditors that the process was managed to benefit a small company. And, within hours of completion of the auction, that small company was taken over by a big industrial house. The auditor has also put a circle on the bank guarantee submitted by the company, which had bid for licences.

CAG also alleged that the Department of Telecommunications virtually gave out broadband market control to a major industrial house.

On the other hand, an audit report on the projects given by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) is also of crucial importance.

CAG also analyzed government's decisions taken during 2008-09 to 2012-13 while scrutinizing the selected projects. These include the UPA government's Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme. This project was created to offer more flexibility to the states through elemental level planning. Rs 32,000 crore were allocated by the government during 2007-08 and 20012-13 for the scheme's implementation in all states and union territories.

CAG has also submitted reports on implementation of nutrient-based subsidy policy for decontrolled phosphate and potassic fertilizers, railway finances, dual freight policy for transportation of iron ore and the supply and infrastructural development for natural gas.