Nagpur: The shoddy affairs being run by cash-starved Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), having a budget of over Rs 2500 crore, could be gauged from the fact the civic body is functioning without Chief Accounts and Finance Officer (CAFO) for months. No surprise, the working of the civic body is taking a hit. The development work is getting hampered and the employees are also in panic. Government letters on financial matters are also gathering dust, sources said.
The tainted Chief Finance and Accounts Officer Vijay Kolhe, who was involved in the stationery scam, has retired. To maintain the pace of development in the city, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has been given responsibilities along with the civic body. The Finance and Accounts Department is also responsible for checking the financial matters, salaries of officers and employees while carrying out development works. But the charge of NMC was given to Vilin Khadse, Finance and Accounts Officer of NIT.
Today’s Rate
Monday 04 Nov. 2024
No one has been given any responsibility of not only the Chief Finance and Accounts Officer but also the suspended Accounts Officer Meshram, who is also allegedly involved in the stationery scam. Apart from this, almost every month officers-employees are retiring from all departments. As a result, multiple responsibilities have been assigned to the same officer and employee, increasing the workload, consequently affecting the day-to-day responsibilities.
In fact, the Municipal Corporation needs a full-time Finance and Accounts Officer. Until this arrangement is not made, the entire economy of the NMC cannot come back on track. It is noteworthy that payments for many development works have been stalled. This is affecting the development work.
The payment-cum-stationery scam worth crores was exposed in the Cement Road Phase 2 of Municipal Corporation. The officers and employees of the Finance and Accounts Department have been suspended. Apart from this, officers of other departments are also suspended. Even after such a big scam was exposed, the seriousness of the administration has also been questioned due to non-appointment of any full time Chief Finance and Accounts Officer. The economic scam of Cement Road Phase 2 was completely suppressed by the Municipal Administrator, while the Lokayukta had promised to take serious intervention. In this case, not a single concerned officer was taken to task, but the same officers are being given preference.
