CAG detects gross misutilisation of funds

AIZAWL, August 9: There has been gross misutilisation of funds in the Mizoram election department while conducting the 1998 parliamentary polls, a CAG report has said. It said an excess expenditure of Rs 21.02 lakh was incurred by the department due to mistakes in electoral rolls while copying from computerised master rolls and in the printing of extra copies. Undue financial benefit of Rs 2.24 lakh was also given to a local computer firm which drew the full sanctioned amount of Rs 3.20 lakh but was unable to complete the voters' list till August 1998. The report said none of the electronic voting machines were used in any polls since they were procured in 1990 at a cost of Rs 37.12 lakh due to non-receipt of further instruction from the Election Commission.