Bagmati Province Faces Rising Audit Irregularities, Over Rs. 43 Million in Recoverable Dues

Makwanpur. Audit irregularities are increasing in the Bagmati Province due to a lack of financial discipline. The rate of recoverable dues under the provincial government also appears high.

According to the eighth annual report of the Auditor General 2083, the recoverable dues in Bagmati Province have exceeded Rs. 40 million. Upon auditing 191 structures of the province, the amount to be recovered (recoverable dues) due to irregular payments, embezzlement, or excess payments without repairs, has been found to be Rs. 43.982 million.

According to the Auditor General, the total recoverable dues amount to Rs. 42.061 million for government offices and Rs. 1.921 million for committees and other organizations, totaling Rs. 43.982 million. As per the Auditor General's report, 6.34 percent of the provincial government's institutional irregularities are deemed unregularizable.

According to the Auditor General's report, 191 government offices have made irregular payments and excess rate distributions totaling Rs. 42.061 million, while various hospitals, development committees, committees, and organizations have recoverable dues of Rs. 1.921 million.

According to the Auditor General's report, an audit of 191 government offices in the province revealed regularizable and recoverable irregularities in 94 offices. Out of the total irregularities of Rs. 693.794 million in the province, regularizable irregularities amount to Rs. 450.185 million (64.89 percent), recoverable dues are Rs. 43.982 million (6.34 percent), and outstanding advances are Rs. 199.627 million (28.77 percent). Including these irregularities, the province's total updated irregularities have reached Rs. 5.280694 billion.

In terms of ministries, the highest recoverable dues are found in the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development has recoverable dues of Rs. 32.548 million, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has Rs. 3.978 million, the Ministry of Water Supply, Energy and Irrigation has Rs. 2.742 million, and the Ministry of Forests and Environment has Rs. 1.122 million.

According to the Auditor General's report, payments were made to construction entrepreneurs at prices exceeding the approved rates, full payments were made for various purchases and consulting services without deducting advance income tax, employees or officials received meeting allowances, travel expenses, and other benefits without any legal basis, and excess payments were made based on running bills without the completion of work as per the contract.

Recoverable dues are also significant in local levels. Compared to the provincial government, the rate of recoverable dues in local levels is considerably high. Among the 119 local levels in Bagmati Province, 117 audited local levels have recoverable dues amounting to Rs. 339.478 million. According to the Auditor General's report, 10.66 percent of the total irregularities in local levels are of a nature that requires direct refund.

According to the Auditor General's report, payments were made to construction entrepreneurs at prices exceeding the approved rates, full payments were made for various purchases and consulting services without deducting advance income tax, employees or officials received meeting allowances, travel expenses, and other benefits without any legal basis, and excess payments were made based on running bills without the completion of work as per the contract.

According to the report, based on the audit of fiscal year 2081/082, more than Rs. 383.460 million in total from the province and local levels needs to be returned to the state treasury (recoverable). The Auditor General has recommended that such amounts be recovered immediately and deposited into the revenue account, and that responsible officials who made excess payments be punished.

Details of Recoverable Dues by Institution