Balangir: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has slammed the municipality for gross irregularities in spending public money.

CAG, the highest authority that audits the receipts and expenditure of all central government and state government agencies, in its interim report has found out irregularities like purchases without tenders, unnecessary purchases and unfruitful expenditures.

The interim report of the auditor general on Balangir municipality was presented before mediapersons by All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Samarendra Mishra here on Friday.

Quoting the CAG report, Mishra said: "Scrutiny of electrical purchase files at Balangir municipality for the year 2014-15 and 2015-16 reveals that electrical goods worth Rs 3.72 crore were purchased by the municipality without inviting annual tender. The dealers who were selected in tender process in 2013.14 were selected arbitrarily for supply of electrical goods during the year 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the previous approved rates."

Mishra said that the CAG report also talked about irregularities in the purchase of LED and mini high mast lights. "In the purchase of these items, the municipality didn't invite any tender and the supply order was issued to one Bhagabati Enterprises on the basis of quoted price and comparative statement prepared at Kantabanjhi NAC(Notified Area Council)," he said.

The CAG also slammed the municipality for an expenditure of Rs 63.29 lakh on the procurement of truck mounted road sweeping machine. "Scrutiny of relevant case records revealed that the project for procurement and road sweeping machine was most unplanned, uneconomical and non-viable," he said.