New Delhi: Latest audit examination of the measures taken for 2004 tsunami relief and rehabilitation has revealed that the Ministry of Environment and Forests had not enforced environmental laws effectively which resulted in extensive destruction in the coastal areas.
A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report has brought to light lapses in effective enforcement of environmental laws, diversion and poor utilisation of relief funds and deficiencies in identification of beneficiaries.
The report said none of the state or union territory authorities prepared the Coastal Zone Management Plan. While Disaster Management Acts had not been enacted, Kerala and Pondicherry did not have a declared disaster management policy.
It said Rs 44.88 crore meant for tsunami relief was diverted to committed liabilities and administrative expenditure. Expenditure of Rs 4.95 crore was incurred in excess of norms due to wrong application of rates and non-adherence of codal provisons.
The report also said beneficiaries were "adversely affected" due to non-utilisation of Rs 17.31 crore. "Poor utilisation led to surrender of funds," it said.
The report said that advances drawn were "lying unadjusted for long periods" in contravention of rules and pointed out that in Tamil Nadu, relief amount of Rs 6.38 crore
was "irregularly disbursed" for 3330 unregistered catamarans in four districts.
It said deficiencies in identification of beneficiaries led to inadmissible payments and shortfall in coverage of relief measures.
In Tamil Nadu, it said, relief packages were provided to 88,011 families against 63,032 families sanctioned. This resulted in excess expenditure of Rs 6.33 crore.
Similarly, sustenance allowance was not distributed to 7,322 families while about 2,742 temporary shelters constructed in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 2.58 crore could not be put to use as these were constructed in low lying areas which were waterlogged due to rain.
In Andhra Pradesh, it said, delay in acquisition of land and resistance on the part of beneficiaries to move out of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) caused delay in completion of permanent houses, and in Kerala out of 4,053 permanent houses in respect of which construction was entrusted to NGOs, only 2,431 houses had been completed.
(With inputs from PTI)
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