Srinagar : The Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday reviewed Audit Paras pertaining to the Public Works (R&B) Department.
The meeting was chaired by PAC Chairman Surjeet Singh Slathia and attended by committee members Mubarik Gul, Shamim Firdous, QaysarJamshaid Lone, Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo), Ranbir Singh Pathania, Ch. Mohammad Akram, Vikram Randhawa and Tanvir Sadiq.
Senior officers of the PWD (R&B), including the Engineer-in-Chief, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Director Finance, besides officers of the Assembly Secretariat, attended the meeting.
The Committee examined Action Taken Reports submitted by the department on observations contained in CAG reports and reviewed pending Audit Paras.
Taking serious note of one of the audit observations, the Committee directed the department to institute a departmental inquiry to fix responsibility and submit an Action Taken Report within two months.
Slathia stressed that public funds must be utilised responsibly and that all development works must adhere strictly to prescribed rules, procedures and codal formalities.
He also called for greater environmental responsibility in infrastructure projects and stressed proper preparation of DPRs to minimise procedural deficiencies and audit objections.
The Chairman emphasised strengthening the capacity of field-level officials, particularly newly recruited Junior Engineers, through regular guidance and mentoring. He also called for stronger field monitoring, internal audit and accountability mechanisms.
The Committee directed strict compliance with financial rules, codal procedures and CAG guidelines in all future projects, reiterating that transparency, accountability, environmental responsibility, quality and timely execution must remain key priorities of the department.
