13 Bihar boards, corporations yet to submit annual reports

By IANS | Published: November 5, 2019 05:28 PM2019-11-05T17:28:05+5:302019-11-05T18:10:12+5:30

At least 13 commissions, boards and corporations in Bihar have not submitted their annual report to the state legislature for several years, an RTI query has revealed.

13 Bihar boards, corporations yet to submit annual reports | 13 Bihar boards, corporations yet to submit annual reports

13 Bihar boards, corporations yet to submit annual reports

These commissions and boards have not submitted their report for at least 13 years, the RTI query showed.

The annual report highlights the achievements, gives details of expenses incurred during a financial year etc, an official said.

The filing of annual reports is compulsory as per provisions of the Bihar State Information Commission to ensure transparency. Ironically, the state information commission too has not filed its annual reports after 2015-16.

Sources say commissions, boards and corporations not filing annual reports may indicate financial irregularities, which could be pointed out during annual auditing.

According to the RTI finding, the Bihar Public Service Commission is the only organisation in Bihar which has filed its annual report for 2017-18.

The Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation has not submitted its annual report since 2004-05. Similarly, the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has not filed its report since 2005-06.

Among boards, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board has not submitted its annual report after 2007-08. "Delay is because of lack of staff. We will put this point before House Committee," said an official of the pollution control board.

Sanjay Kumar, the public relations officer of the Bihar Legislative Assembly said, "the annual reports of 2018-19 have not been submitted to the Assembly by any commission or board or corporation so far by the Estimates Committee wing of the Assembly."

The Bihar Assembly secretariat has taken serious note of the irregularities. Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary said that the government has a Public Undertaking Committee to look into these matters.

He said fresh reminders will be issued to the commissions, boards and corporations to file their annual reports.

( With inputs from IANS )

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